Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri says the Premier League’s big clubs “should blame themselves” if they fail to qualify for the Champions League amid speculation surrounding a breakaway European Super League.
Representatives from five established powers of the English game — Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United — met with the chairman of American company Relevent Sports Charlie Stillitano in London on Tuesday.
The meeting was primarily about the preseason International Champions Cup (ICC) competition which is staged in the United States and Asia and organised by Relevent Sports, and the clubs have denied that any discussions took place regarding a European Super League.
However, when asked if a Super League was still on the agenda, Stillitano told radio station Sirius XM on Thursday: ”I think it is. They’re talking about it all over Europe. At least a change in format.
”When they came up with the Champions League, the idea wasn’t to have PSV and Genk playing in the knock-out stage. What would Manchester United argue: did we create soccer or did Leicester create [it]?
“Let’s call it the money pot created by soccer and the fandom around the world. Who has had more of an integral role, Manchester United or Leicester? It’s a wonderful, wonderful story — but you could see it from Manchester United’s point of view, too.”
Leicester and Tottenham currently occupy the first two of the four Champions League places available for next season, with United and Liverpool currently outside the Premier League’s top four.
Support InfoStride News' Credible Journalism: Only credible journalism can guarantee a fair, accountable and transparent society, including democracy and government. It involves a lot of efforts and money. We need your support. Click here to Donate