UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has suggested that Manchester United and Liverpool were the English clubs most involved in the controversial proposals for a European Super League in 2021.
Almost two years ago, 12 of the best clubs in Europe signaled their intention to create a European Super League.
Manchester United, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan signed on to the project in the face of fierce opposition from governing bodies, fans and even governments helped close the proposals just 48 hours after the initial plans were announced.
Ceferin, speaking in an interview in the overlap with sky sportsGary Neville reveals that Man Utd and Liverpool were “most involved” and that he “lost” to an anonymous English club official, while also stating that Man City and Chelsea were not as committed to joining the competition of rupture.
I received a phone call from one of the English clubs, I won’t say which one. I got a little lost and said, ‘Go to hell. Starting tomorrow, you are my enemies. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.’ It was difficult.
“As far as I know, unfortunately the club of your [United’s] the owners were very involved and Liverpool too,” he said. the overlap.
Manchester United fans hung banners and scarves on the Trinity statue outside Old Trafford as they protested against ESL’s plans.
“I think those two were on the English side the most involved. [in the Super League]. The last to join were Chelsea and Manchester City. I’m not sure about Tottenham and Arsenal.
“When I arrived in Switzerland, I received a phone call from one of the English clubs saying that we will have to join this project. They didn’t like it, but they didn’t want to be the only ones to leave. Two clubs were having a lot of doubts in England, they said they wanted to continue being our friends, our friends from within.
Liverpool supporters hung banners outside Anfield after the announcement of the ESL plans.
“Both Chelsea and Manchester City were hesitant from the start, and it was one of these teams that called me up.”
“I got a phone call from one of the English clubs, I won’t say which one. I got a bit lost and said: ‘Fuck you. From tomorrow you are my enemies. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.’ It was tough.”
Meanwhile, Ceferin also spoke about the supposed financial strength of the Premier League compared to other domestic leagues in Europe, but the UEFA president praised the English top flight and suggested that the other leagues in Europe need to catch up.
He added: “I’m not worried about that.
“I think the Premier League is doing a good job and the other leagues should do better.”
Ceferin on Barça, Real and Juve: “It is their right to attack but our right to ignore”
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus remain interested in pushing for a revamped European Super League, which could contain up to 80 teams in a multi-division format.
The three clubs are now locked in a legal battle with UEFA in an attempt to pave the way for a new competition in the future.
But Ceferin insists that there is not yet much support for new proposals for a new competition.
“They say that UEFA has a monopoly and that they have the right to organize their own competition,” he said. “My answer is, run your own competition. We never stopped them from running their own competition.
“A22 Sports wanted a meeting with me. Some of my guys were saying why should I meet them, but I thought if I don’t meet them, they would say that arrogant UEFA doesn’t want to meet. However, I don’t want to meet them alone. because I do not trust that they abuse my words.
“So, I invited the ECA clubs, leagues, fans and FIFPRO into the room. They didn’t know. I’ll just quote the chairman of the English fans who said: ‘You have fewer supporters than (the) UK had prime ministers in the two last months.
“Everyone was against them. Nobody wants to play with them, but they still shout that UEFA doesn’t allow it. We have no power. If you want, you can create your own football clubs and start your competition tomorrow.” “
He added: “I’m not sure what they want because they never tell us what they want.
“They are not attacking UEFA, but they are attacking the football system and the football pyramid. They are attacking everything that has been here for hundreds of years.”
“It is their right to attack, but it is our right to ignore them.”
