Man Utd icon Sir Alex warns against European Super League
April 20, 2021
Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said a breakaway European Super League would be a move away from 70 years of football history and that fans love the Champions League as it is.
The Red Devils are amongst 12 clubs who have confirmed their intent to establish their own competition, which they want to play midweek in between domestic competitions.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus are the other clubs involved.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, Ferguson said: “Talk of a Super League is a move away from 70 years of European club football.
“Both as a player for a provincial team Dunfermline in the 60s and as a manager at Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup, for a small provincial club in Scotland it was like climbing Mount Everest.
“Everton are spending £500 million to build a new stadium with the ambition to play in Champions League. Fans all over love the competition as it is.
“In my time at United, we played in four Champions League finals and they were always the most special of nights.
“I’m not sure [if] Manchester United are involved in this, as I am not part of the decision making process.”
Gary Neville, Ferguson’s former captain, interrupted his commentary on Sky Sports coverage of United’s victory against Burnley to criticise the breakaway plans.
“I’m not against the modernisation of football competitions, with have the Premier League, we have the Champions League,” he said.
“But to bring forward proposals in the midst of COVID, in the midst of the economic crisis that exists for all clubs is an absolute scandal.
“United and the rest of the big six clubs that have signed up to it against the rest of the Premier League should be ashamed of themselves.
“Are Arsenal in that? They have just drawn with Fulham, Manchester United are drawing with Burnley. I cannot concentrate on the game. To sign up to the Super League during a season is a joke, they should deduct points off all six of them.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy said players would be risking too much to take part in the proposed Super League.
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