Jürgen Klopp has voiced his disapproval of the proposed European Super League by 12 clubs as announced yesterday.
Liverpool are one of the six English clubs in a founding group of 12 clubs across Europe for a new showpiece tournament that seeks to rival the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds, owned by Fenway Sports Group have been targeted for their involvement as one of the major influences behind the project and Klopp doubled down on his 2019 comments that he hoped a Super League would ‘never take place’.
Speaking ahead of their 1-1 draw away at Leeds, the German boss was reminded of those quotes and maintained his stance
“My opinion didn’t change. Obviously, I heard for the first time about it yesterday and trying to prepare a game, a very difficult game against Leeds, and I knew so far we got some information, not a lot to be honest.
“It’s a tough one. People are not happy about it, and I can understand that, but I cannot say a lot more about it because we were not involved in any processes, not the players not me, we didn’t know about it. We will have to wait to see how it develops.”
‘I like the Champions League, the competitive factor of football. I like the fact that West Ham might play in the Champions League next year. I don’t want them to because we want to do that. But they have a chance like that.
‘What can I say: Liverpool is much more than some decisions and the most important things in football is the supporters and the teams and we have to make sure nothing comes between them.
‘I heard we put banners down at Anfield but the players didn’t do anything wrong. We didn’t win all of the games but we want everything.
‘We want to qualify for the Champions League next year. When other people from other clubs use our anthem against us , I don’t like that, nobody wants to be alone in these moments.
The 53-year-old revealed he understands fans’ frustration and urged caution following protests by both sets of supporters at Elland Road before kick-off.
“I understand it, but I am in a different position. I don’t have all the information, I don’t exactly know why the 12 clubs did it. I know some things will change in the future, in football some things have to change in the future, that’s for sure as well. The power, where the power is, and stuff like this, that’s not right.
Klopp further weighed in on the proposed reforms and highlighted areas that needed change for the sport to move forward.
“Everybody plans new competitions, UEFA showed me the new competition and I said ‘I don’t like it’ months ago, because of more games. I don’t expect they don’t do it just because I don’t like it. It’s always more games, more games. If you tell the clubs it’s about more money, what do you think it’s about with UEFA?
“The Club World Cup, whenever that should happen, it’s about money nothing else. So all these things happen.
“But usually you have to prepare these kind of things, but one thing I can understand that the people think is not right is the competitiveness. I get that, I said that before, I might not like that we will not be in the Champions League [next season if they don’t finish in top four], but if we earn it we want to be there like anybody else.”
The development took the world of football by surprise and has thrown many fans and ex-players into chaos. UEFA have issued heavily-worded statements condemning the effort to undermine the sport’s competitiveness.
Other stakeholders like the FA, The Premier League, UK government and various supporter groups of the member clubs have also voiced their anger and strong opposition to the project and will make every possible measure to stop the closed competition.
More discussions are set to take place in the coming days as the situation unravels and stakeholders decide the way forward.
