European Super League

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      in Soccer

      Man Utd legend Gary Neville calls for Glazers to go in furious tweet 12 months after hated European Super League plot

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      MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Neville has called on the Glazers to go a year on from the Europan Super League plot. The furious TV pundit made clear he had not forgotten about the doomed project and “greed” of the American owners.
      Gary Neville has been one of the most vocal critics of the Man Utd ownershipCredit: Getty
      Avram and Joel Glazer have been the target of fan anger in recent yearsCredit: PA
      It is a year since Europe’s leading clubs stunned the world by attempting to start a European Super League.
      It led to a major backlash against some club owners and raised big questions about the ownership model in this country.
      The Glazer family faced a furious reaction from Manchester United fans, following years of anger at the running of the club.
      Neville has been one of their most vocal critics.

      He wrote on social media: “It’s one year to the day the European Super League was launched.
      “Six clubs in this country including mine were willing to destroy English Football for their own greed.
      “12 months on United fans are still angry and waiting for Joel Glazer to show as he promised. The Glazer family must go!”
      The former defender’s message comes following furious fan protests before United beat Norwich on Saturday.
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      Supporters expressed their fury at the ownership of the club, but the event saw vile chants of “Joel Glazer’s gonna die”.
      The protests, organised by the 1958 supporter group, is the latest demonstration of frustration with the Glazers.
      Fans accuse the group of mismanagement of the club and a major part of the reason why they have declined in recent years.
      The ill-fated decision to briefly join the Super League has only added to the anger against Joel Glazer.
      United were among the 12 from England, Spain and Italy that announced they would be starting a breakaway league, which would have effectively replaced the Champions League.
      But a furious backlash from fans, pundits, footballing bodies and even politicians saw the plans crumble within a number of days last April.
      It’s 1 year to the day the European Super League was launched.6 clubs in this country including mine were willing to destroy English Football for their own greed.12 months on United fans are still angry and waiting for Joel Glazer to show as he promised.The Glazer family must go!— Gary Neville (@GNev2) April 18, 2022

      In the fallout, Joel Glazer issued an apologetic statement to fans.
      He said: “You made very clear your opposition to the European Super League, and we have listened. We got it wrong, and we want to show that we can put things right.
      “Although the wounds are raw and I understand that it will take time for the scars to heal, I am personally committed to rebuilding trust with our fans and learning from the message you delivered with such conviction.
      “We continue to believe that European football needs to become more sustainable throughout the pyramid for the long-term. However, we fully accept that the Super League was not the right way to go about it.” More

    • 225 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      New Champions League plans are just like Super League and Ceferin must reconsider Putin-esque U-turn – Karren Brady

      by

      PROMISES, Promises.According to president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa could be counted on to prevent anything like the European Super League ever happening.
      Aleksander Ceferin’s Champions League plans are designed to keep the big clubs on top – just like the European Super LeagueCredit: Reuters
      His exact words were: “Teams will always qualify and compete in our competitions on merit, not a closed shop run by a select few.”
      Now in a Putin-esque about-turn he is presenting a scheme in which two teams with historic records will be allowed into the Champions’ League in two year’s time without qualifying by a top placing in domestic competition.
      No matter how the reasoning is dressed up the fact is he and a group called the European Club Association are nodding to a rich boys’ club who don’t like the idea of fair competition at home leaving them without a ticket to further big bucks abroad.
      Those bucks are going to grow bigger.
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      Uefa intend to add four clubs to the original 32, and to turn the first round of their premier competition into a single table involving ten ties for each club.
      What we haven’t been told is how opponents will be selected — not drawn from a hat, you may be sure.
      My deep suspicion is a ranking system will be fixed to give an extra boost to the continent’s aristocrats’ chances of reaching the knockout stage of 16 clubs.
      The proles must wait another season.
      If Ceferin thinks that all is fair in love and football then I guarantee all but the supporters of falling giants don’t. Their failures are the result of their own shortcomings and, meanwhile, better-managed, ambitious clubs will be marginalised.
      In Ceferin’s system, a club coming fifth in, say, the Premier League might well be omitted in favour of another who comes sixth or even seventh.I make that a protection racket and there is no place anywhere for that let alone in competitive sport.

      The excuse for these shenanigans has, as you no doubt realise, nothing to do with fairness and in time that will surely be its undoing.
      When competition is corrupted by money, as boxing once was, public interest declines.
      Football is miles from being fixed but even a sniff of off-stage deals is enough for doubts to emerge.
      In three of the past five seasons Arsenal would have qualified for the Champions’ League under Ceferin’s proposals without ever coming fourth in the League.
      This would be a perfect result for Uefa planners but hardly for a number of teams in other countries who have better competitive claims but don’t attract the crowds or, vitally, the appetite of television companies.
      English football is enthusiastically followed around the world. The reasons for such support are obvious. Our teams feature internationally famous players who value their jobs and wages.
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      In general they play entertaining, exciting football and know that winning the Premier League is a prize of great value.
      And a word for the Championship, too. It attracts the third highest attendances in the game and, no wonder, because effort and tension buzz through every match.
      It also has a system of promotion and relegation understandable to kids of six or seven. Not in the future though.
      To all of us the shortly to be considered Uefa plan is so complicated its proud claim of “a coefficient based on historical performances” deadens my heart and brain.
      A year ago Ceferin also commented: “Our game has become the greatest sport in the world based on open competition, integrity and sporting merit, and we cannot and we will not allow that to change. Never, ever.”
      So much for promises. More

    • 238 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      New Champions League plans are just like European Super League proposals – designed to keep big clubs on top

      by

      PROMISES, Promises.According to president Aleksander Ceferin, Uefa could be counted on to prevent anything like the European Super League ever happening.
      Aleksander Ceferin’s Champions League plans are designed to keep the big clubs on top – just like the European Super LeagueCredit: Reuters
      His exact words were: “Teams will always qualify and compete in our competitions on merit, not a closed shop run by a select few.”
      Now in a Putin-esque about-turn he’s presenting a scheme in which two teams with historic records will be allowed into the Champions’ League in two year’s time without qualifying by a top placing in domestic competition.
      No matter how the reasoning is dressed up the fact is he and a group called the European Club Association are nodding to a rich boys’ club who don’t like the idea of fair competition at home leaving them without a ticket to further big bucks abroad.
      Those bucks are going to grow bigger.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}DRAW-SOME! .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}England in favourable World Cup draw with USA, Iran & Scotland, Wales OR Ukraine
      Uefa intend to add four clubs to the original 32, and to turn the first round of their premier competition into a single table involving ten ties for each club.
      What we haven’t been told is how opponents will be selected — not drawn from a hat, you may be sure.
      My deep suspicion is a ranking system will be fixed to give an extra boost to the continent’s aristocrats’ chances of reaching the knockout stage of 16 clubs.
      The proles must wait another season.
      If Ceferin thinks that all is fair in love and football then I guarantee all but the supporters of falling giants don’t. Their failures are the result of their own shortcomings and, meanwhile, better-managed, ambitious clubs will be marginalised.
      In Ceferin’s system, a club coming fifth in, say, the Premier League might well be omitted in favour of another who comes sixth or even seventh.I make that a protection racket and there is no place anywhere for that let alone in competitive sport.

      The excuse for these shenanigans has, as you no doubt realise, nothing to do with fairness and in time that will surely be its undoing.
      When competition is corrupted by money, as boxing once was, public interest declines.
      Football is miles from being fixed but even a sniff of off-stage deals is enough for doubts to emerge.
      In three of the past five seasons Arsenal would have qualified for the Champions’ League under Ceferin’s proposals without ever coming fourth in the League.
      This would be a perfect result for Uefa planners but hardly for a number of teams in other countries who have better competitive claims but don’t attract the crowds or, vitally, the appetite of television companies.
      English football is enthusiastically followed around the world. The reasons for such support are obvious. Our teams feature internationally famous players who value their jobs and wages.
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      In general they play entertaining, exciting football and know that winning the Premier League is a prize of great value.
      And a word for the Championship, too. It attracts the third highest attendances in the game and, no wonder, because effort and tension buzz through every match.
      It also has a system of promotion and relegation understandable to kids of six or seven. Not in the future though.
      To all of us the shortly to be considered Uefa plan is so complicated its proud claim of “a coefficient based on historical performances” deadens my heart and brain.
      A year ago Ceferin also commented: “Our game has become the greatest sport in the world based on open competition, integrity and sporting merit, and we cannot and we will not allow that to change. Never, ever.”
      So much for promises. More

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      European Super League ‘far from being abandoned’ with Premier League teams ‘waiting for new format’ says Barcelona chief

      by

      BARCELONA president Joan Laporta believes that the European Super League is “far from being abandoned”.The hated project was canned last year just days after its announcement after fans mobilised to protest against football fat cats.
      Joan Laporta is determined for the Super League to come into existenceCredit: EPA
      Desperate Barca, Real Madrid and Juventus chiefs have clung on to hopes of a revival, however, and Laporta reckons that English clubs could risk the wrath of their supporters by getting back onboard.
      In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, he said: “Super League abandoned? No, far from it.
      “We are there with Juventus, Madrid and waiting for the other teams.
      “The English clubs and German clubs are waiting to see if it will be a new format of competition or it will be an improved Champions League.”
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Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}JUVE GOT ISSUES .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Juventus KO’d from Champions League in last four years by teams out of ESL
      Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was among those most staunchly against last year’s grim proposals.
      And the Manchester United icon fully expects it to rear its ugly head again in future.
      Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit earlier this month, Neville said: “It will make a comeback, I don’t believe the hierarchy and elite in football that exists are going to go away.
      “They want more money, they want to create more wealth for themselves and they don’t have a great interest in the wider game beyond their own clubs.
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      Gary Neville has been left disgusted by ESL plansCredit: Getty
      “Tracey Crouch, the Conservative MP, has done a fantastic fan led review that was part of the Tory manifesto at the last election, it is a great report and it now needs to move through legislation in parliament and if it does then I will finally believe the ESL is dead.
      “Until that point I don’t believe the ESL is dead, I believe it will come back rehashed, reworked and maybe with a cherry on it this time.
      “But the reality of it is I still don’t think it will be accepted because the fans don’t want it.”
      Neville’s beloved Man United were pioneers of the initial breakaway attempt, as well as Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham and Arsenal.
      ESL tyrants Juventus were recently dumped out of the Champions League Villarreal – marking the FOURTH consecutive year that they have been eliminated by a team that wasn’t involved in the initial Super League power grab.
      Juve were dumped out of the Champions League in humiliating fashionCredit: Rex More

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      Juventus have only been KO’d from Champions League in last four years by teams deemed not good enough for Super League

      by

      JUVENTUS have been knocked out of the Champions League in the last four years by teams that were deemed unworthy for the European Super League.Juve were among the elite clubs that tried to break away and form the unpopular ESL in 2021 but a furious response from UEFA, FIFA, fans, players, legends and pundits led to its immediate collapse.
      Juventus have been knocked out of the Champions League in the last four yearsCredit: Splash
      Juventus have been eliminated by teams not included in European Super LeagueCredit: Rex
      The Bianconeri, however, remain part of three rebels – along with Real Madrid and Barcelona – who have yet to give up on the controversial competition, which is supposedly designed for the world’s best clubs.
      But the Serie A giants’ track record in the Champions League, a tournament that takes in Europe’s finest, leaves them with egg on their face.
      That is because Juventus have been eliminated from the world’s premier club competition in successive seasons by Ajax, Lyon, Porto and most recently Villarreal – all of whom were omitted from the project.
      The Dutch giants knocked them out in the quarter-finals in 2019, the Ligue 1 side offloaded them in the Last 16 a year later, the Dragons bested them on the same stage in 2021 and Unai Emery’s men replicated that feat last night.
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      That is hardly a good look for Juventus chairman Andrea Agnelli, who is still among the ESL’s biggest supporters.
      The Turin outfit drew 1-1 with Villarreal in the first leg last month at the Madrigal.
      Star signing and former Arsenal transfer target Dusan Vlahovic scored the second fastest goal ever for a Champions League debutant inside the first minute.
      But Dani Parejo equalised on 66 minutes to give the Yellow Submarine a lifeline heading to the return fixture.
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      That is where the Spanish club ran riot with a decisive 3-0 victory over Juventus.
      Gerard Moreno opened the scoring in the 78th minute from the penalty spot before Pau Torres sealed qualification seven minutes later.
      Arnaut Danjuma capped off a major victory with another penalty kick in the second minute of stoppage time. More

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      Man Utd close to agreeing supporter share scheme following disastrous European Super League move that saw fan protests

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      MANCHESTER UNITED are close to agreeing a new fan share scheme in a bid to make amends for their part in the European Super League scandal. According to the club, discussions with the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust (MUST) have been underway for many months to get the scheme up and running.
      The Glazer family have been the club’s majority stakeholders since 2005Credit: PA
      Fans have regularly protested the Glazers’ ownership of the club throughout the yearsCredit: PA
      A statement released by the club yesterday reads: “We are in advanced talks with MUST about a Fans’ Share Scheme which would open a path for fans to build, over time, a meaningful ownership stake in Manchester United.
      “This would give fans a strong collective voice within our ownership structure and help cement a new spirit of long-term partnership between fans and the club.
      “There are significant legal and regulatory complexities being worked through, together with MUST and expert advisers.
      “As well as making progress on the Fans’ Share Scheme, we are also creating a Fans’ Advisory Board as a new channel for board-level dialogue with supporters and this is close to launch.”
      The share scheme and advisory board were proposed by co-owner Joel Glazer at a fans’ forum last June in response to protests about his family’s ownership.
      Glazer suggested that the share scheme and advisory board would help to “reset the relationship with our supporters [and] strengthen the club as a whole”.

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      It came to light that Glazer had played a major role in the club’s involvement in the controversial Super League, which saw fan protests amp up in April this year.
      United, along with the other five Premier League clubs involved, withdrew from the proposed competition within just 72 hours of its announcement.
      There was heavy backlash from fans, pundits, players and government ministers, who condemned the clubs’ actions and proposed sanctions for the clubs involved.
      United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal all agreed to pay a £25m fine and take a 30-point deduction if they attempted to revive the plot.
      A group of 20 protestors invaded the United training ground to protest the Glazers’ ownership of the club, with the players having calm them down.
      Their match against rivals Liverpool was then in jeopardy after a further Old Trafford protest involving around 10,000 fans almost spilled out of control.
      Around a hundred fans stormed Old Trafford’s grounds before kick-off and others blocked the entrance to the Lowry Hotel, stopping the players from leaving.
      And the new fan share scheme has been officially announced seven-months later to appease the club’s supporters, capping off a difficult year at Old Trafford.
      The details surrounding the fan ownership scheme should be formally agreed by the end of the year, but will then be subject to a ballot of ‘MUST’ members.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Neil Custis says that Manchester United should look to appoint Brendan Rodgers as manager More

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      Man Utd legend Gary Neville launches attack on ‘scheming’ Premier League and demands change to football governance

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      GARY NEVILLE has accused the Premier League of operating in a ‘vacuum of distrust’ as he called for change in football governance.The pundit launched his broadside after seeing league bosses wave through Newcastle’s £300million Saudi-led takeover.
      Gary Neville fumed at Premier League bosses for a lack of transparencyCredit: Sky Sports
      Prem boss Richard Masters was in the firing line of the former United skipperCredit: Getty
      There have been calls for chairman Gary Hoffman to stand down as civil war broke out over the controversial sale.
      And Neville wrote on Twitter: “The Premier League are in a vacuum of distrust and hesitancy whilst all the time scheming / claiming they don’t require Independent Regulation.
      “The ESL is still a threat and football governance globally let alone in the UK is broken. Enough is Enough!”
      Rival clubs and fans have been up in arms over the blockbuster deal which saw previous owner Mike Ashley sell to the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
      A heated meeting of all 19 other clubs and Premier League officials was held as bosses demanded to know how the Saudi buyout was greenlit so quickly.
      And fans even protested outside St James’ Park ahead of the first game of the new regime – a 3-2 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday.

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      Objections have been raised over human rights abuses in Saudi Arabia and the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.
      Human rights body Amnesty international claimed the deal was an attempt to ‘sportswash (Saudi Arabia’s) appalling human rights record with the glamour of top-flight football.”
      Neville also raised the alarm over the potential the European Super League (ESL) could resurface in reaction to new ownership on Tyneside.
      Six Premier League clubs were part of plans to form a closed league of European giants earlier this year.
      The idea collapsed under the weight of objections from fans and governments but Real Madrid and Barcelona have not yet given up on the idea completely.
      ⚽ Read our Manchester United live blog for the latest news and transfer gossip from Old Trafford
      Man Utd legend Gary Neville names Cristiano Ronaldo as one of two ‘problems’ Solskjaer must resolve in Prem title hunt More

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      Villarreal icon Senna insists Europa League fairytale against Man Utd would not have happened with European Super League

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      VILLARREAL legend Marcos Senna reckons his side’s fairytale Euro triumph proves why the European Super League isn’t needed.In May the Spanish minnows beat Manchester United in a penalty shoot out to seal the unlikeliest of Europa League final wins.
      Villarreal shocked Man Utd to win the Europa League in MayCredit: AP
      Marcos Senna is glad the European Super League plot has failedCredit: Getty
      It was a triumph that would never be possible if talk of an elite, closed-shop European Super League ever came to fruition.
      And Senna, one of the club’s all-time greats, is convinced that should be enough to make sure any future plans are KO’d once and for all.
      The Brazilian-born former midfielder, who spent 11 years at the club, said: “You have to win and deserve things on the pitch, not in the offices. We beat United with the ball.
      “A Super League would take the shine off what football is all about and I’m so glad it’s not going ahead. We would have been so annoyed if it had.”
      Senna, a 2008 Euros winner after taking out Spanish citizenship and now a Villarreal director, will be at Old Trafford tonight when the sides meet in the Champions League.
      And he insists that Unai Emery’s team are coming to England convinced they can pull off another famous victory. He added: “A draw wouldn’t be bad, but the obligation to win.

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      “United are coming off the back of a defeat, which makes things more difficult for us, but we have the opportunity to make a very important leap in Europe.
      “I haven’t spoken to Unai about tactics, but he has clear ideas and always wants to go out to win. I don’t think he’s coming to Old Trafford to lock himself in or protect the team.
      “We have great players and we have to try to go out for the game. United are a great team but our best defence is a good attack.
      “The plan is to go to Old Trafford, compete and not give up on anything. We’ve been to their ground twice and drawn both times, so if it’s three points, then great.
      “It’s a source of great pride for the city to meet a world-class team. And we know we’ll be up to the task and compete.
      “At Villarreal we dream of getting through the group stage, enjoying it, going far and trying to get back into the Champions League next season. We want to stay in the elite.”
      Villarreal players celebrate on the pitch after beating Man Utd 11-10 on penalties to win the Europa League More