It will be interesting to see what the German has to say on the matter, this evening.
Jürgen Klopp has always spoken about the deep connection he feels for Liverpool Football Club and their fans. News of a breakaway European Super League is putting the club and so many of their fans on a direct collision course.
It was confirmed, on Sunday, that 12 of Europe’s top teams are intent on forming their own league – separate from Uefa’s Champions League – and one that will change the game as we know it.
The 12 confirmed teams are: Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
There has been widespread condemnation of the league, which would money billions of euro out of the wider game and into the pockets of these ring-fenced and self-appointed big ‘Super League’ clubs. Rio Ferdinand labelled the moves ‘an absolute disgrace’, Jamie Carragher said it was ‘an embarrassment’ while Gary Neville took aim at English football’s three traditional big guns – Arsenal, United and Liverpool.
“I’m disgusted with United and Liverpool most. Liverpool pretend, like, ‘You’ll never walk alone’ – the people’s club, the fan’s club. Manchester United, 100 years, born out of workers around here and they’re breaking away into a league without competition, you can’t be relegated from.
“It’s an absolute disgrace and honestly we have to wrestle back the power in this country from the clubs at the top of this league and that includes my club.”
Talk of a European Super League has been in the ether for the past three decades, with the big-money clubs on the continent always eager to start up a competition that would ensure guaranteed fixtures and TV money.
It seems to get brought up every two or three seasons, with some table-thumping and bold claims from all-comers before receding again. Uefa’s plans to expand the Champions League, yet again, are the latest set of sticky plasters they were bringing to the party.
Back in 2019, there was similar Super League conversations going on, although not at this advanced stage. At the time, Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was asked for his thoughts on the matter. His reply was widely shared across social media channels on Sunday night. The German proclaimed:
“I hope this Super League will never happen. With the way the CL is now running, football has a great product, even with the Europa League. For me, the Champions League is the Super League, in which you do not always end up playing against the same teams.
“Why should we create a system where Liverpool faces Real Madrid for 10 straight years? Who wants to see that every year?”
The owners of these 12 football clubs, and the three other – as yet unnamed – sides set to be founding members of the Super League are betting fans will eventually come around to their way of thinking.
With plans now out in the open, and Klopp up for media duty before and after Liverpool vs. Leeds, Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football will be Must-See-TV.
