in , , , , , , , ,

“Enough is enough” – Man United legend lashes out at the club for ESL commitment

Manchester United legend, Gary Neville has urged the club to go all out and secure the signing of Tottenham Hotspur talisman Harry Kane
Gary Neville is Manchester United through and through

Manchester United legend Gary Neville hits out at clubs for European Super League commitment

Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville has lashed out at the six major English clubs, including Manchester United for committing to the European Super League (ESL).

It was revealed yesterday that 12 clubs, including the big six from England, have committed themselves to join the European Super League. The announcement came just a day before the new Champions League format is set to be announced.

Apart from United, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are the English sides involved. This has prompted Neville to accuse the clubs of betraying their history and their supporters.

“It’s an absolute disgrace.”

“I’m a Manchester United fan and have been for 40 years of my life but I’m disgusted, absolutely disgusted.”

Neville reminded the origins of United and believes the current owners’ decision is a breakaway from the same pathos of what the club stands for. While the ESL may be financially lucrative, it betrays the very fabric of fair and open competition.

“Manchester United, 100 years, borne out of workers from around here, and they’re breaking away into a league without competition that they can’t be relegated from?”

The Glazers have not always found favour with the Manchester United fans. (GETTY Images)
Not the club we grew up supporting! (GETTY Images)

A misguided feeling of self-importance!

Neville is not against bringing in more money in the sport. In fact, his beef comes from the clubs trying to wrest control and cement their place at the top of the footballing pyramid.

His sentiments are echoed by how far away some of the said clubs are from the pinnacle. Arsenal have never won a Champions League or Europa League title while Tottenham Hotspur’s participation in Europe is nothing more than token representation.

To suggest that Spurs are a bigger club historically than Ajax Amsterdam is nothing but misguided exceptionalism.

Fernandes had a go at his teammates in the loss to Tottenham
What exactly makes Tottenham a top European club?

Manchester United crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages while Liverpool might not even qualify for next season’s competition. To think that these clubs have a right for automatic qualification to the top tier reeks of unfair competition.

“Have they got a God-given right to be in there? Honestly, the time has come now to get an independent regulator and stop these clubs having the powerbase. Enough is enough.”

More Manchester United News

We completely agree with Neville here regarding his comments. The European Super League is nothing more than a money-grabbing gimmick that guarantees the future of the top clubs.

While it may sound appealing for some to see the top sides face off on a regular basis, it robs them of the anticipation of such fixtures and kills the romanticism of the game. Not to mention closing the door on other clubs even attempting to get to the top.

Written by Pranav Nair

An Engineering postgraduate with a keen interest in statistics, pop culture and football.

Saul Niguez

Report: Man United ready to pay £43m release clause to sign Saul Niguez

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer waves to the fans.

Solskjaer achieved something against Burnley that not even Sir Alex Ferguson did