Manchester United fan Natalie Burrell said she was “disgusted” by the plans
Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp is still against the idea of a European Super League, although his club has agreed to join it.
In 2019, Klopp told Kicker He hoped there would never be a Super League.
When asked about Sky Sports’ plan ahead of the Premier League game with Leeds, he said: “My feelings haven’t changed. My mind hasn’t changed.”
Several club fans protested outside Elland Road – including the burning of a Liverpool shirt – while Reds fans displayed banners opposed to the move at Anfield.
A plane flew over Leeds’ premises and said “No to the Super League”. United players wore T-shirts that read “Earn It” next to the Champions League logo and “Football is for the fans”.
Uefa President Aleksander Ceferin said clubs and players involved in ESL could be prohibited “as soon as possible” from all UEFA competitions – and the World Cup.
Klopp continued: “People are not happy with it, I can understand. I can’t say more because we weren’t involved in the process – not the players, not me – we didn’t know anything about it. We’ll do it.” have to wait how it turns out.
“I like the competitive aspect of football. I like that West Ham are in the Champions League. I don’t want them to do it because we want them to, but I like them to have a chance.”
Leeds players wore Super League t-shirts
Klopp said he doesn’t want his players to be held responsible for a decision made in the boardroom.
“I’ve heard a few things but what I really don’t like is Liverpool Football Club is much more than a few decisions,” he said.
“The most important part of football is the fans and the team. We have to make sure nothing gets in the way. I’ve heard there are banners, but the players haven’t done anything wrong. We all have to stick together.”
Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa was also critical in his pre-game interview with Sky Sports.
“The fundamental problem is that the rich always strive to be richer without considering the consequences for the rest. As they gain more power, they demand more privileges over others,” he said.
“What makes competition great is the possibility of one of those weak teams developing, not the big teams that are playing against each other.”
PFA chief Gordon Taylor said the Super League idea had been debated for some time but was “the last thing the game needs”.
“It’s a little ticking time bomb that we have,” Taylor told BBC Sport. “You have renegade members who are causing rioting. That is creating a massive problem for the vast majority of clubs, or you are trying to control it.
“It’s a real test for Uefa, Fifa and our football association, and it’s also something to win because we’re an entertainment industry, the players are important, as are the fans, and you can’t just do it.” Have a carefree demeanor and ignore it or it will come back and bite you. “
European Super League – Key Developments So Far
- A dozen clubs – including Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – agree to form a new midweek competition
- 20 clubs will be represented in the European Super League in all and run alongside domestic leagues such as the Premier League
- Founding clubs are lured with one Share of a EUR 3.5 billion (GBP 3 billion) grant from investment bank JP Morgan
- The UK government says it is prepared “put everything on the table to prevent this”.
- France’s President Uefa, the Premier League, the main European leagues, player unions and former players have strongly criticized the move
- Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp says he does not agree with the move and that the club’s players have not been consulted
- A YouGov poll of 1,730 soccer fans found that 79% were opposed to the idea of a Super League
- The 14 Premier League clubs that are not involved in the ESL change will meet on Tuesday
- Fans ventilate frustrations on social media and some visit grounds to raise banners in protest
Reaction – “you kill the game”
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards said BBC Radio 5 Live, despite holding a position as ambassador for the club, “the first word that came to mind was shame”.
“Where Manchester City came from, from Division Two [what is now League One] all the way to the premier league and they earned themselves the right way through hard work, great support and not easy things and went all the way to winning the premier league.
“Now I had the nerve to believe that they should be better than anyone else – I was stunned.”
Ex-Arsenal striker Ian Wright said he couldn’t believe his former club was one of those involved in the ESL move. “This is the same arsenal that was lauded for paying homage to David Rocastle just a few weeks ago,” Wright said in a video on Twitter.
“God, the man would turn around in his grave and know what’s going on now. Have we fallen that far?
“That we take part in competitions because we are not good enough to take part in competitions. To the detriment of the English game, we get a seat at the table where we have no right to be there.”
Former Blackburn and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton added at 5 Live: “It is deeply unfair for the players in Liverpool and for Jürgen Klopp as manager and all other clubs.
“The owners made their beds and have to come out and explain to the fans and go forward and they didn’t – it’s shocking. This is going to be very ugly.
“These clubs have an obligation to their country. I love the league format. When clubs leave the English league, the game ends as a spectacle.”
“The Champions League is getting watered down. It’s going to be a Champions League B competition. What will happen to the Merseyside derby? Liverpool have just knocked Everton down. They’re killing the game.”
