• Tue. Apr 16th, 2024

European Super League: Arsenal And Manchester United Owners Apologise

ByGodwin Duru

Apr 22, 2021 #Soccer, #Sports

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says club owner Stan Kroenke has apologised to him after they pulled out of joining the European Super League.

The Spaniard added that football fans had sent “the strongest message” over their opposition to the ESL.

Arteta said he had spoken to Kroenke, while Arsenal chief executive Vinai Venkatesham had addressed the players.

He said they accepted the ESL episode “has had terrible consequences and it was a mistake”.

The Gunners were one of twelve clubs, including English counterparts Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham, to sign up to the ESL, which was announced on Sunday.

All six withdrew on Tuesday, with Arsenal apologising in an open letter to their fans.

In a related development, Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer spoke to fans who entered the club’s training ground at Carrington on Thursday to protest against the Glazer family’s ownership.

.They had banners saying ‘Glazers Out’ and ‘51% MUFC’.

Co-chairman Joel Glazer would have been a vice-chairman of the European Super League before United withdrew on Tuesday after a furious backlash.

On Wednesday, he issued a letter of a letter of apology admitting the club made a mistake joining the proposed breakaway competition.

“At approximately 9am this morning a group gained access to the club training ground,” said United in a statement.

“The manager and others spoke to them. Buildings were secure and the group has now left the site.”

Solskjaer was joined by coach Michael Carrick, technical director Darren Fletcher and midfielder Nemanja Matic in speaking to the fans, who were pictured at the security entrance, outside the main entrance and on a training pitch.

“We failed to show enough respect for its deep-rooted traditions,” Glazer said in an open letter to fans.

There has been a long-standing campaign against the Glazer family since the Americans’ controversial leveraged takeover of the club in 2005.

BBC