UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has claimed that Manchester United and Liverpool were the top two English clubs that were involved the most in the controversial European Super League proposals in 2021.
In an interview on The Overlap with Gary Neville, Ceferin also claimed that he “lost it” with an official of an unnamed club.
The UEFA President also revealed Manchester City and Chelsea were not as committed to joining the breakaway competition.
It was in 2021 that United, Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan all signed up for the project.
Manchester United and Liverpool most interested
However, it was met with widespread opposition from fans and governing bodies, resulting in proposals being ripped apart after just 48 hours since the initial plans were announced.
Ceferin said, “I think that those two were from the English side the most involved [in the Super League]. The last to join were Chelsea and Manchester City. I’m not sure about Tottenham and Arsenal.”
The 55-year-old also mentioned that he received hostility from English clubs, “When I arrived in Switzerland, I got a phone call from one of the English clubs saying that we’ll have to join this project.
They didn’t like it but didn’t want to be the only ones out. Two clubs were hesitating in England very much; they said they wanted to stay friends with us, our friends from within.”
“Both Chelsea and Manchester City were hesitant from the beginning, and it was one of these teams that called me. I had a phone call from one of the English clubs, I will not say which. I lost it a bit and said, you go to hell. From tomorrow, you are my enemies. I don’t want to speak to you anymore. It was tough.”
Speaking on the Premier League’s financial prowess compared to other European leagues, the UEFA President mentioned that other countries must catch up. Ceferin said, “I think the Premier League is doing a good job and the other leagues should do a better job.”
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are still keen to push for a new look Super League. However, the three giants are locked in a legal battle with UEFA. Ceferin also mentioned that there is not much support for the new competition.
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