Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has acknowledged that the European Super League is “on hold” after eight of the 12 clubs involved announced their retirement – while the current format of the Champions League is considered “outdated” and claimed that the reaction to the project was “as if I killed football”.
Perez – one of the main instigators of the proposed separatist competition, named its first president – also rejected fan protests, such as those seen outside Stamford Bridge in Chelsea on Tuesday, saying “only 40” fans were involved and suggesting that they were “mobilized” by Super League opponents.
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“I am sad and disappointed,” Perez told Spanish radio station El Larguero, following Real’s 3-0 victory over Cadiz. “We have been working on this project for three years … We have never seen so much aggression, as if it was orchestrated, it surprised us all. We have been in football for 20 years, it is an aggression I I have never seen “In my life, I’ve had threats, like I’ve killed someone, I’ve killed football.”
All six Premier League clubs that initially entered the competition – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur – withdrew on Tuesday, before being followed by Atletico Madrid and Internazionale a day later. .
“Someone in the English group didn’t have much interest and that became contagious,” Perez said. “One of them was never convinced … [The English clubs] left because of the atmosphere. UEFA put on a show. It’s like I dropped an atomic bomb. Maybe we didn’t introduce it and explain it well, but they didn’t give us a chance either. “
Regarding protests outside Chelsea’s 0-0 Premier League draw with Brighton on Tuesday night, Perez apparently deduced that La Liga president Javier Tebas had a role in those demonstrations.
“It simply came to our notice then [Chelsea fans] and I can tell you who put them there, “he said.” The same person who gave Cadiz [anti-Super League] T-shirts, “Perez said in a veiled reference to Thebes.” It is not normal. Football is a world of values ”.
While AC Milan and Juventus issued statements on Wednesday, acknowledging that the competition is unlikely to take place as planned, Real Madrid and Barcelona remained silent.
“The project is on standby,” Perez said. “Juventus did not leave, nor did Milan. We are all together. Barcelona reflects. The first thing we agreed on yesterday was to stop, to explain, as we should have done from the beginning … No one he paid [a penalty to leave], the 12 are still there, they haven’t left. I signed a binding agreement after a lot of work. “
Perez insisted that the revenue cut caused by the coronavirus pandemic, combined with declining interest from new generations of fans, had to be met with radical changes to European football beyond those proposed by UEFA in their new Champions League format. , revealed Monday.
“[Big signings] it will not exist without the Superliga, “he said. Not for Madrid or anyone. It is impossible if the money does not flow. “
Perez denied that Real Madrid – which is a club owned by its members or partner, just like Barcelona – should put its plans to the vote at its annual meeting.
“Believe [the members] you are stupid? “If you tell them every Tuesday or Wednesday, you will play against Manchester [United] or Barcelona … Won’t they prefer that? Don’t you think fans would prefer to play against the big clubs from the start? Do you think I should ask them that? “