Source: Daily_Mail
Wenger's fear: Arsenal boss warns that European super league is on the way
Arsene Wenger fears the Champions League is under threat because European football's heavyweights want to create a super league to earn more cash.
Wenger delivered his warning on the eve of Arsenal's clash with Celtic, a play-off for a place in the competition's group stage, which is worth at least £26million to the winners in prizemoney and television rights.
But he believes this is not enough to finance the huge sums being spent on transfers and wages by Europe's top clubs.
The Champions League winners will make up to £60m but Wenger believes somemajor clubs are conspiring to create a European league within a decade,ending the debate about whether Celtic or Rangers should be allowed to join the BarclaysPremier League.
'I see more a European league developing over time rather than one team going out of the country,' said Wenger. 'The national leagues will survive but maybe in 10 years you will have a European league.
'I'm not sure 100 per cent, but I feel inside our game there are some voices behind the scenes coming up to do something about that, especially if the rules become too restrictive for these clubs.
A thing of the past? If Wenger's predictions are true, scenes such as Pep Guardiola being thrown into the air by victorious Barcelona players will be consigned to the history books
'The way we are going now, financially, is that even the money coming in from theChampionsLeague will not be enough for some clubs because they spend too much.The income is basically owned by UEFA and they distribute the money tothe clubs.'
Such a competition would ensure a set number of games involving Europe's biggest clubs which, in turn, would generate greater gate receipts and more valuable television rights.
If the momentum towards such a European league proves unstoppable then Wengerinsists the integrity of the sport must be protected by a promotion and relegation system from the national leagues.
'Personally, I believe only in sporting merit,' said the Arsenal boss. 'So, if one is created, it has to be a transfer up and down. That is very difficult to resolve practically.
'We do not want to kill the national leagues. Teams would have to playin both the European league in midweek and the national league at theweekend. It means all these clubs basically have two teams.'
Wenger claims the Gunners are not going into the tie with Celtic motivated by money but by the prospect of a 12th successive Champions League campaign.
'We are not under any financial pressure but we want to play against the best,' said Wenger.
'We want to be there, of course, and it is a very important game for us. Thereis high pressure on us to perform. It is a massive game for us.'
