CHUMPIONS LEAGUE United boss Solskjaer slams new format... and fears for the well-being of his players
Glazers put unity top of their wishlist
them and they’ve been very supportive of me. They have backed me.
“We have shown in the players we have signed, that we’re committed to improving – and that they’re committed to improving.
“There are other projects we work on, which we don’t always broadcast.
“It’s all about improving the club, the infrastructure, the facilities and the squad.
“We’ve had an apology from Joel Glazer (above) – and I think that’s important. He’s told us how committed he is to helping us going forward.
“Unity and everyone coming together and working together for one common goal is the best way forward.”
United’s debts are once again close to £500million, 16 years after Malcolm Glazer completed a leveraged buy-out by borrowing heavily to secure ownership of the club.
The billionaire died in 2014, but his children have continued to reap rewards from the club.
It has been estimated that around £1.5billion has been spent servicing debts and dividend payments to the family.
Former United keeper Edwin van der Sar has been touted as a possible successor to Woodward after a remarkable record of success as chief executive of Ajax.
Solskjaer said: “It’s important we employ the right man. We can’t employ on sentiment. Having Man United’s best interests at
heart is one of the criteria, of course.
“But I’m not the one who writes the job description. My job now is to take care of results, but whoever comes in I am hopeful I can have a good working relationship with and I can provide results.”
Solskjaer was a United player when the Glazers took over and witnessed the open hostility of the fans.
In midweek, he was confronted by a group of militant supporters at the club’s training ground.
He is braced for more unrest – especially when fans are allowed back into stadiums – but believes his attempts to continue to rebuild his team will not be damaged by the failed Super League.
Solskjaer said: “The market has changed after this year, but I’m still very positive and hopeful that we can follow through on the plans we’re working on.
“I don’t think that will change at all.
“I think the owners of every club that signed up for the proposal have got a job on their hands.”
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER fears the new Champions League format is putting quantity ahead of quality.
At the end of a week when UEFA managed to head off the threat of a European Super League, the Manchester United boss has questioned the wisdom of ordering football’s elite players to commit to even more fixtures.
In the new shape for the competition, there will be 225 Champions
League games from the 2024-25 season – up from the current
125 – with 36 teams playing in a Swiss-style format.
Solskjaer understands that the increased schedule will generate more revenue in terms of TV cash and gate receipts – but feels that UEFA are failing in their duty of care for players.
Solskjaer said: “The new format of the Champions League gives the players more games – and we need to look after the players so they can play at their best level. I know there’s money in it, but they are human beings. I want the best possible product, the best possible games of football, and the magic of a final or semi-final has to be there.
“We’re moving towards the end of this season and players are playing every two to three days. It’s hard to play at your maximum level after a long, long season.
“Of course players want to be part of a final. Of course they want to be part of a European Championship or a World Cup.
“But are we preparing them to play at the highest standard?”
United captain Harry Maguire (left) led a dressing room revolt at Old Trafford when plans for the ESL were announced last weekend.
Within 24 hours it was clear that the 12-club breakaway involving fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham was untenable as players, managers and fans reacted with fury.
But UEFA have now pushed through plans for an expanded Champions League that will see teams play 10 games against 10 different clubs in a seeded league format.
Sixteen of the 36 starting clubs will then progress through to the knock-out stages.
Solskjaer warned that the hectic schedule prompted by the pandemic cannot be repeated indefinitely.
He said: “We have to listen to the players. Everyone knows this year has been particularly difficult and special, because of the pandemic.
“And I think football has been a release in terms of mental health for the people and the players as well. We’ve been privileged to play games.
“But the product will be better when the fans are back in – and it will be even better still when we get a couple more days between games.
“This week has been fantastic because it has been the first time since August 2019 when we haven’t had a midweek game, apart from the midweek break we had before Project Restart.
“To get the best possible product there are many, many ways we can do that – but listen to the fans, listen to the players and listen to us managers.”