Manchester
City boss Pep Guardiola has urged owners of the 12 clubs involved in the
European Super League breakaway proposals "to explain to the whole world why
they took the decision".
The Premier League leaders - along with Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool,
Manchester United and Tottenham - have signed up to a new European Super
League which would see the establishment of a 'closed league', without the
threat of relegation for the 12 founding members.
Guardiola admitted he felt "uncomfortable" being asked about the competition
because he did not yet know much more than the initial statement but was
sceptical on the initial proposal.
Sky Sports News has invited the six Premier League clubs to explain their
plans and the European Super League in more detail.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday night's game
against Aston Villa, Guardiola said: "No one has given any more details [to
me] about what is going to happen or what is going to be created.
"Honestly, we (the managers) are not the right people to ask about it
because only the president of this committee can talk more clearly about the
idea for the future of football.
"That is why it is a little uncomfortable for us (the managers). We don't
have all the information. Once we have all the information, I can give my
opinion.
"I can give my opinion of what I know today but I do not know any more -
that is the reality.
"It is not a sport where the relation between effort and success does not
exist. It is not a sport where success is already guaranteed, it is not a
sport where it doesn't matter when you lose.
"But at the moment it is only a statement, and no more than that. I would
love the president of this committee to explain to the whole world why they
took the decision.
"I don't know why these specific teams have been selected and going to play
this competition.
"I have said many times, I want the best and strongest competition possible,
especially the Premier League
"And it's not fair if one team fights to make it to the top and then cannot
qualify because success is just guaranteed for a few clubs."
European Super League - Financial details
Founding Clubs have signed a 23-year commitment to the new Super League
Legal advice to clubs is that it would be a breach of EU and UK competition
law to deny a new entrant into the market
Clubs believe signing off at least €10BN in Solidarity Payments demonstrates
their commitment to the wider game
Solidarity figure is higher than current distribution from UEFA and will
equate to approximately 8% of their proposed revenue
Share of €3.5BN for each Founding Club cannot be spent on new signings and
must only be used to support infrastructure plans and offset COVID-19 impact
A general view of the Champions League trophy1:45
Reporter Michelle Owen tells Sky Sports News there is still a strong
appetite for the Champions League among fans with the European Super League
proposals purely motivated by owner greed
Pep questions make-up of ESL clubs
Guardiola admits he has not spoken to his players on the proposals and is
instead just trying to focus on what could be a busy week for his club.
After the game against Aston Villa, City face Tottenham in the Carabao Cup
final at Wembley before playing the first leg of their Champions League
semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain.
However, the Manchester City boss did question how the 12 clubs were
determined as founding members of the proposed European Super League,
suggesting decisions across the game are all motivated by self-interest.
Six English teams are part of a breakaway European Super League, but what do
we know so far?
"[The European Super League] is an embryo that is not yet breathing. That is
the reality," Guardiola said.
"We're going to play the Champions League next week and try to reach the
final and next season, we're going to play European competitions because we
deserve it and won it on the pitch.
"The players have to be focused on Aston Villa. Like all the managers have
said before like Jurgen (Klopp), we did our job.
"Now the right people have to clarify, they have the obligation and duty as
soon as possible to come out all around the world and clarify what the
situation is and why they took their decisions.
"Why is Ajax Amsterdam who have four or five Champions League titles but
will not be there? They have to clarify that for me, for all of us.
"Every club defends its position. Don't be cynical. Everyone makes their own
interests. When you talk about the Premier League and UEFA, they look after
their interests.
"UEFA have also failed here because they should have communicated and been
in touch earlier.
"They have to clarify because I don't have all the information as to why
some clubs are they and others not."
'Big Six' reminded of rules in PL meeting
Premier League CEO Richard Masters has chaired a virtual meeting over the
European Super League proposals with the 14 Premier League clubs not
involved in the breakaway competition.
The concept was emphatically rejected by all the clubs present, and Sky
Sports News' chief reporter Bryan Swanson analysed their subsequent
statement.
Swanson said: "Tellingly, they have reminded the six clubs of the rules.
They have specifically mentioned the rules in their statement, saying that
the 14 clubs at the meeting unanimously and vigorously rejected the plans
for the competition.
"The Premier League is considering all actions available to prevent it from
progressing, as well as holding those clubs involved to account under its
rules.
"What we do know about the Premier League rules, is that there is one in
particular that says that should a club, during a season, wish to join
another competition, they have to seek the written permission of the Premier
League board to do so.
"Remember, this is still an unsanctioned competition. That is something the
Premier League will be really mindful of.
"Make no mistake, this is a strong statement from the Premier League. What
they are clearly doing is saying that here we have all 14 clubs, that we met
this morning, all in agreement that this is a bad decision, this is
something that they do not want to be involved in, they do not want to be a
part of.
"Still questions need to be asked - exactly what measures are the Premier
League considering? What specifically are they looking at to prevent, what
can be done here?
"What this once again graphically highlights, is that the owners and the
executives of the decision-makers, of those 'Big Six' clubs there, they
should come out publicly on camera and be accountable and explain their
decision making."
'Premier League needs a total reset'
Sky Sports News reporter Kaveh Solhekol also provided further insight on how
Tuesday's Premier League meeting unfolded...
The meeting began with an update on the government position on the
breakaway, which is that they will do everything to prevent it.
A senior executive at one of the six breakaway clubs had spoken to a senior
executive at one of the other 14 Premier League clubs insisting that the
European Super League members do not want to leave the Premier League and
that "people haven't been listening to us". This was not well received by
other attendees at the meeting.
The 14 Premier League clubs want the six breakaway teams to remain in the
Premier League but have made it clear that certain people from the six clubs
would not be welcome back in the division.
There is also concern that executives from the six clubs have been sitting
on very important Premier League committees and they have been privy to
commercially sensitive and confidential information that could be used by
the European Super League.
The 14 do not want to end up in a prolonged court case, but believe that
whatever happens, the Premier League needs a total reset.
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