WHAT THEY SAID
STEVE PARISH (Crystal Palace chairman): “It feels like a busted flush. A lot of us have thought this was a long time coming. But this is creating a gilded elite that will not be challenged.”
GRAHAM POTTER (Brighton boss): “Sport is about the consequences of failure and the possibility of success. We need to value the fact that teams can be punished, or face the consequences of not performing as well as the others, in terms of relegation.”
WAYNE ROONEY (ex-man United and England, above): “The last thing Manchester United would try and jeopardise is the relationship with the fans. I know that for a fact. Let’s wait and see what information comes out whether it is good news or bad news. I know I certainly wouldn’t give up playing for my country.”
BRUNO FERNANDES (Man United): “Dreams can’t be bought.”
RALPH HASENHUTTL (Southampton boss, above): “There cannot be any other opinion. It’s a big threat, what I see coming up, war, if you want, from the big clubs. It’s a big threat and we have to fight against it. They have a lot of power, these clubs.”
CHARLIE AUSTIN (QPR):
“Football as we know it in this country is going to be smashed to pieces. Void the league cup final Sunday! Dock them all points and relegate them! No longer the working man’s game!”
SPION KOP 1906 (Liverpool fans’ group): “We, along with other groups involved in flags, will be removing our flags from The Kop. We feel we can no longer give our support to a club which puts financial greed above integrity of the game.”
MESUT OZIL (ex-arsenal and Germany): “Kids grow up dreaming to win the World Cup and the Champions League – not any Super League. The enjoyment of big games is that they only happen once or twice a year, not
every week.”
ANDER HERRERA (PSG and ex-man United):
“I fell in love with popular football, with the football of the fans, with the dream of seeing the team of my heart compete against the greatest. If this European Super League advances, those dreams are over. I believe in an improved Champions League, but not in the rich stealing what the people created.”