The sort of connection with football fans that made him loved at Athletic Bilbao, Manchester United and PSG.
The (fat) cat is out of the bag about European Super League plans – involving 12 of the continent’s biggest sides – and the outcry is enormous. Ander Herrera has captured the public mood with an evocative statement.
The former Manchester United midfielder, who now plays with PSG, has let it be known – in no uncertain terms – how much he abhors the idea of a breakaway competition that would essentially cut smaller clubs loose.
Herrera says he fell in love with football as he dreamed of his favourite team competing against the very best in Europe. He writes:
‘If this European Super League advances, those dreams are over. The illusions of the fans of the teams that are not giants of being able to win on the field, competing in the best competitions, will end.
‘I love football and I cannot remain silent about this.
‘I believe in an improved Champions League, but not in the rich stealing what the people created, which is nothing other than the most beautiful sport on the planet.’
— Ander Herrera (@AnderHerrera) April 19, 2021
Paris Saint Germain are not one of the 12 ‘Founding Members’ of the ESL but it is being widely reported that two French clubs are part of the as yet unnamed trio of sides set to join.
Many Manchester United supporters, who loved Herrera for his all-or-nothing attitude on the pitch, will be rowing in behind his passionate statement today.
He is not the only one to come out and lambast the plans for a breakaway league. Former Liverpool defender has declared that football could be on the ‘brink of complete collapse’.
Football will be in the near future on a brink of complete collapse. Nobody is thinking about the bigger picture, only the financial side.
I still believe we can solve this unpleasant situation.
— Dejan Lovren (@Dejan06Lovren) April 19, 2021
Mesut Ozil, has added his voice to the growing clamour against the plans.
Mesut Özil is the latest big-name player to oppose the Super League pic.twitter.com/Hh8qqLxUyu
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) April 19, 2021
Former Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool players coming together to make complete sense while their old clubs buckle up for a power grab.
Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund has confirmed they have roundly rejected moves to make them part of such a breakaway league. On Monday, the club’s chairman stated that Dortmund and Bayern Munich were intent on sticking with Uefa for their revised Champions League plans.
FC Porto have also distanced themselves from the ESL, while Longford Town came up with this great take on the ever-evolving events:
#europeansuperleague pic.twitter.com/JBI6OSfbLB
— Longford Town FC (@LongfordTownFC) April 18, 2021
The battle lines are being drawn.
We want to be on the side with Ander Herrera.
