After the storm, calm. The Champions League semi-finals will take place this year, after being put on hold for a revolt last week. The European Super League project, initiated by twelve clubs including three qualified for the last four of the C1, was buried almost as quickly as it saw the light of day. But is he really buried? “For the moment, no one has left the Super League. Nobody paid the penalty for doing so, ”supported the president of Real Madrid and the main instigator of the cession with UEFA, Florentino Pérez. The president of the supreme body of European football, Aleksander Ceferin, has promised sanctions - even exclusion - against "those who think that the Earth is flat and that the Super League still exists". Aiming at Juventus,Barça and Real, the only clubs not to have communicated on their withdrawal from the almost closed league project. Asked about the subject, Zinedine Zidane did the best to contain his annoyance on Monday.
"To believe that we are not going to participate in the Champions League next year is absurd"
Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach
"I already answered.
To believe that we will not participate in the Champions League next year is absurd, retorted Zidane at a press conference, on the eve of the semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
We have talked a lot about this subject, but we have a match tomorrow (Tuesday). ”
Can the palpable tension between Real and UEFA play a role in the course of the meeting?
"The referee will do his job, and we too will do ours," warns the Madrid coach.
We can never control the rest.
That I give my opinion, it will be useless.
We have to do our work on the ground.
We don't care about the rest.
[...] We want to see Real Madrid in the Champions League next year, that's my opinion. "
Bielsa (Leeds) on the Super League: "Football belongs to the fans"
A week earlier, Zidane, loyal to Florentino Pérez with whom trust has been mutual for years, had manipulated the tongue-in-cheek: “It's a question for one person: the president.
[…] I have my opinion, but I will not give it to you. "
The French defender and world champion of Real, Raphaël Varane, did not get wetter than his coach.
"The best way to settle these things is by talking to each other, and making sure that the football world is united," Varane said.
Chelsea, opponent of the Merengue on Tuesday (9 p.m.), announced their withdrawal from the European Super League project on the night of April 20 to 21 and in the wake of their five English counterparts which are Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal.
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