Some really interesting quotes from Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger in Glasgow today, ahead of tomorrow’s Battle of Britain game against Celtic.
During the press conference Wenger was asked whether Celtic or Rangers would be a welcome addition to the Barclays Premier League, and he took the opportunity to expanded his views on the future of the game.
“I believe you have two parts of Scottish club football; you have Rangers and Celtic and then the rest. I would say that Celtic and Rangers could compete, certainly, in the Premier League in the top eight. The other teams at the moment are not equipped for that. But I see more of a European League developing in time anyway. “The national leagues will survive, but maybe in 10 years you will have a European League.
“The way we are going now financially, even the money coming in from the Champions League for some clubs who spend so much money will not be enough anymore because the income is basically owned by UEFA and they distribute the money to the clubs. I’m not sure 100 per cent that I am right, but I feel that there are some voices behind the scenes in our game aiming to do something about a European league, especially if the rules become too restrictive for the big clubs as things currently stand.”
Wenger continued:
“If a European league (does happen) the question is whether clubs will transfer from a national league or whether it is a franchised European league. That’s the question people will have to answer. I personally believe only in sporting merit, so if one league is created there has to be promotion up and down. But that would be, practically, very difficult to resolve. I do not want to kill the national leagues so each team should have to play in the national league and in Europe. That means the Euro league taking place in midweek and the national league over the weekend. All this would mean having two teams, basically.”
What do you think of Wenger’s comments? Do you think we will have a European Superleague in the next 5-10 years? And if we do, is that a good thing?
