Sir Alex Ferguson claims Super League would end '70 years of history'
By Tom Gott
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has urged those sides involved in the creation of the Super League to re-evaluate their decisions before they destroy 70 years of history.
Ferguson's beloved United are among 12 European giants who have announced their intention to leave the Champions League and form their own breakaway competition - a move which has left fans all over the world in uproar.
Leading European football clubs announce new Super League competition.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 18, 2021
Those involved are keen to move on from UEFA's current competition, but Ferguson, who won two Champions Leagues and two Cup Winners' Cups during his managerial career, told Reuters that doing so would be a betrayal to every club that dreams of making it big.
“Talk of a Super League is a move away from 70 years of European club football," he said. "Both as a player for a provincial team Dunfermline in the 60s and as a manager at Aberdeen winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup, for a small provincial club in Scotland it was like climbing Mount Everest.
“Everton are spending £500m to build a new stadium with the ambition to play in Champions League. Fans all over love the competition as it is.
“In my time at United, we played in four Champions League finals and they were always the most special of nights.
“I’m not sure [whether] Manchester United are involved in this, as I am not part of the decision making process."
United are definitely involved in this as co-chairman Joel Glazer has been confirmed as one of the vice-chairman of the breakaway competition, alongside Juventus' Andrea Agnelli.
“By bringing together the world’s greatest clubs and players to play each other throughout the season, the Super League will open a new chapter for European football, ensuring world- class competition and facilities, and increased financial support for the wider football pyramid," Glazer said (via the club's official website).
Following the announcement of the Super League late on Sunday evening, UEFA officials will attend an emergency meeting on Monday to figure out how to respond.