Balls to the Super League

ARSENE WENGER has sensationally claimed the rest of Europe ‘dream of destroying the Premier League’ as he took aim at the failed Super League plot.The former Arsenal boss, 71, has taken another swing at the failed breakaway competition following its humiliating collapse having already launched a scathing attack earlier this week.
Arsene Wenger reckons European clubs are out to ‘destroy the Premier League’ following the failed Super League projectCredit: Getty
Wenger has claimed now he believes the European Super League was ‘dead from the start’.
But the Frenchman – who was in charge of the Gunners for 21 years between 1997 and 2018 – has also criticised the Premier League Big Six for initially agreeing to take part.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham all signed up to be ‘founding members’ before hastily withdrawing after an incredible backlash from fans.
Despite nine of the 12 clubs pulling out, Real Madrid chief and European Super League ringleader Florentino Perez has claimed the competition is still alive and that the Premier League teams CAN’T pull out.
And now, Wenger has told The Telegraph: “It was born dead. From the start, I couldn’t believe it would work.
“The most surprising in all that was the English behaviour.
“Everybody dreams of destroying the Premier League in Europe. In England we do it ourselves.
“I can’t understand the rationality behind that because England voted for Brexit and now they want to bring a Super League.”
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Wenger continued: “The English has the strongest league.
“The Super League would destroy, 100 per cent, the Premier League.
“The basis of our sporting culture in Europe is to have access through your performances to top-level competition.
“I don’t understand how anybody could believe that capping the link between the domestic league and access to the top league would pass and would be accepted by the fans.
“The rest is how amateurish all that looked in the presentation, in the preparation.
“You worry quite a lot how our top clubs are managed.
“It looked to be a quick fix for the financial problems that these clubs have.”
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IAN WRIGHT has claimed the Kroenke family ‘are not fit to run’ Arsenal as he backed supporters’ protests.Police were forced to intervene as thousands of Arsenal fans gathered at the Emirates to call for Stan Kroenke’s departure ahead of the defeat to Everton on Friday.
Ian Wright has backed protests against Arsenal’s ownersCredit: Getty
Gooners want Stan Kroenke to quit amid the ESL fiascoCredit: AFP
An effigy of Stan Kroenke was strung up outside the Emirates on FridayCredit: Getty
A huge group expressed their outrage at the failed European Super League breakaway attempt and general running of the club in North London on Friday.
Fans HUNG an effigy of Stan Kroenke outside the ground prior to Bernd Leno’s own goal gifting the Toffees the points.
Now the legendary Gunners striker, who has tweeted ‘Kroenke Out’ this week, has further offered his backing for the American chief to sell up.
Wright told Dazn: “I stand with them. I made it clear what I think about the owner. I think they’re right to be outside there.
“The statement from the manager as well, fans have every right to be out there saying what they’re saying.
“KSE are not fit, for me, not fit to run the club, not fit to own the club. We’ve heard Josh Kroenke saying they’re not selling the club – and I wouldn’t expect them to, it’s a massive cash cow for them.
“But if they are going to stay and run the club then it’s going to have to be done under different terms. 
“The only thing I can seek solace from is that the Government are going to be doing a review on club ownership. Everything to do with what owners like that do and what they don’t do.”
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Wright added: “We’re talking about a silent owner, since he’s been at our club he’s not invested properly in the way they buy at the club, the way they service the debt with the club.
“The fact they wanted to go into this competition… it’s like they’ve given up on us. If you’re the owner of a club, it’s going to cost you money.
“If it’s going well, it’s going to cost you money. If it’s not going well, it’s going to cost you money.
“What Stan Kroenke has done since he’s been at our club is be middle road. Anything that’s going to cost him, he’s nowhere to be seen. 
“That’s what we can’t have anymore. I don’t think he’s fit for purpose at the club anymore.
“The sooner we can get him out – which is going to be tough, that’s why if we can’t get someone like him out we’re going to have to go towards the government and keep them pushing to get legislation to get these people to do the job properly.”
Thousands of fans descended on the Emirates to call for Kroenke to leaveCredit: Alamy
Arsenal director Josh (left) and owner Stan Kroenke (right) have been slated by GoonersCredit: Getty
American billionaire Kroenke, 73, joined the board of the Premier League outfit in 2008 and became majority shareholder three years later.
Supporters remain determined to see Kroenke and son Josh, a club director, leave the Gunners.
Josh Kroenke admitted the ESL was a major error but insisted his family will not sell up.

He stated: “We were put in a very difficult position by forces outside of the club and we got it wrong.
“All of our trust was shredded this week, I understand that, but I still believe that we are fit to carry on in our positions as custodians of Arsenal.
“I might be met with scepticism but over time I hope to establish some sort of relationship with our supporter groups and show them that we are capable of taking the club forward.
“When are we going to sell? I am not willing to answer that question because we have no intention of selling.”
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AVRAM GLAZER refused to apologise to Manchester United fans over the European Super League plot.And when asked whether he will sell the club, the Red Devils co-chairman ‘snapped’ in response.
Avram Glazer was approached by a Mirror reporter but refused to apologise to fansCredit: REUTERS
The Mirror tracked down the American near his £16million six-bedroom mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.
He was approached by a reporter as he visited a chemist’s in a black T-shirt, grey jeans and red trainers while driving his white Jeep Wrangler.
Glazer, 60, had not been seen since his club confirmed their intention to join the controversial breakaway competition last Sunday and subsequent withdrawal within 48 hours.
The reporter repeatedly asked him if he wanted to say sorry to fans – but he declined.
He was then asked if he would sell United following the debacle but the report adds he snapped back: “No comment.”
Glazer got into his car alongside wife Jill and sped off and returned home.
The tense exchange came days after his brother and fellow co-chairman Joel issued a grovelling apology in an open letter to supporters.
He was central to the Old Trafford club’s attempt to join the other five Premier League rebels and six other teams from Spain and Italy in the closed-shop money-grabbing franchise.

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Joel was named a vice-chairman of the European Super League but admitted his glaring error.
In a lengthy statement on United’s website, he said: “We fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.
“In seeking to create a more stable foundation for the game, we failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions –promotion, relegation, the pyramid – and for that we are sorry.
“This is the world’s greatest football club and we apologise unreservedly for the unrest caused during these past few days.
“It is important for us to put that right.”
United supporters – and former players such as Gary Neville – are desperate to see the back of the Glazer family, who bought the club in 2005.
Former right-back Neville insisted the greedy owners ‘attacked every single football fan in this country with what they did’.

He added: “The Glazers have no place in Manchester anymore.”
Supporters, meanwhile, made their voices heard with a protest inside the Carrington training ground on Thursday.
A group of around 20 breached security and made their way on to the first-team pitch, refusing to leave until manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke with them.
When he did, the Red Devils boss – previously against the Glazer takeover – told them ‘Joel Glazer loves the club’.
The fans were unimpressed by the comment and are planning further demonstrations at Old Trafford this afternoon and next Sunday before the home game against Liverpool.
And two of the key figures in the Red Knights campaign also wrote to Joel Glazer to reduce the family’s stake in the club from 74.9 per cent to a maximum of 49.9 per cent.
In a letter seen by Sky News, Lord O’Neill – the architect of the Red Knights campaign attempting a £1.25billion takeover bid in 2010 – and the hedge fund manager Sir Paul Marshall encouraged the radical reforms ‘as a gesture of your desire to do things right’.
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LIVERPOOL fans are the latest to launch a furious protest against their club’s owners amid the failed European Super League breakaway.Supporters descended on Anfield on Saturday morning ahead of the lunchtime kick off against Newcastle.
Liverpool fans are the latest to protest against their owners amid the ESL fiascoCredit: AFP
A number of fans descended to the streets around Anfield to display their disgustCredit: Reuters
Fans are calling for Liverpool owner John W Henry to leave the clubCredit: AFP
Liverpool’s team coach was met by the banners ahead of the game with NewcastleCredit: PA
Banners displaying messages such as ‘Spirit of Shanks, Not Greedy Yanks’ and ‘FSG rats’ were placed for the Reds’ team coach to see on route to the ground.
Liverpool’s American owner John W Henry is refusing to sell the club amid the European Super League fiasco despite widespread calls for him to get out.
But despite their anger towards the chief, fans cheered loudly for the team as the coach pulled up for the clash after skipper Jordan Henderson spoke out against the ESL breakaway.
Former Liverpool and Real Madrid star Steve McManaman was covering the game for BT Sport.
He said: “It’s been a city full of anger and resentment
“They want to support the team. They understand that the resentment is directed at a group of people, not anyone associated with this football club here. It’s shameful.”
Reds legend Jamie Carragher is one of thousands of Liverpool fans calling for the American to leave but the billionaire has dug his heels in and said: “My work is not done.”
Henry was one of the main protagonists in the group whose plans would have destroyed football.
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However the Reds joined their greedy counterparts in backing out of the close shop franchise league on Tuesday night.
Liverpool eventually released a video from the Fenway Sports Group chief on Wednesday morning in which Henry finally apologised for dragging the Reds’ name through the mud.
But within the statement was a clear message about his future as owner.
He said: “More than a decade ago when we signed up with the challenges associated with football, we dreamed of what you dreamed of. And we’ve worked hard to improve your club. Our work isn’t done.”
Chelsea were the first to break ranks after fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to voice their anger, with Manchester City following soon after.
Two of the protesters pose for the cameras outside Anfield on SaturdayCredit: PA

A cardboard cut-out of Jurgen Klopp was also placed amongst the protestersCredit: Reuters
Then Tottenham, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal all announced they were quitting the doomed project hours later.
Angry Reds fans hung angry banners at Anfield – which were still there on Wednesday morning – and also protested outside Elland Road ahead of Monday’s game against Leeds.
Only Arsenal could bring themselves to actually say sorry for the ridiculous plans straight away with the other six renegade clubs releasing pathetic dismissive statements.
But that did not stop thousands of Gooners heading to the Emirates last night for another angry protest with resulted in police being called to intervene.
Arsenal fans hung an effigy of owner Stan Kroenke outside the Emirates last nightCredit: EPA
Thousands of Gooners protested to demand their owner leavesCredit: EPA

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