Most revolutions don't come easy but there's a growing sense a modified European Super League is doomed to fail.
The first attempted incarnation in May 2021 was pure box office – the biggest clubs in England, Spain and Italy ready to up sticks and leave their domestic competitions and the Champions League in their dust. But sheepish Premier League mutineers quickly returned with their tails between their legs amid fan apoplexy.
But whispers soon leaked Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona were unbowed and the push to return with a revised plan was in the works. The big reveal in full was shared to a global audience on Thursday and the reaction certainly wasn't positive. And now reverberations were felt on these shores as Celtic and Rangers were once again namechecked after 25 private member invites were sent.
Both are unlikely to be swayed and the Premiership champions, in particular, have significant reasons why are the ultimate long shot to depart UEFA and say yes to the breakaways. Record Sport runs the rule over the current state of play and where Celtic fit in.
Inside man
Let's make one thing abundantly clear; Celtic are NOT indebted to UEFA's flagship tournament because Peter Lawwell has been a vital member of the European Club Association – flip the question and it will lead you to the answer. The former chief executive has sat at a top table to protect his club and other illustrious names who sit outside the 'big five' for such events like these.
Lawwell remains highly respected among Nyon decision makers and it's vital to remember the Parkhead chairman kept his ECA hat firmly fixed after stepping down as the club's chief executive after 18 trophy-laden seasons. He and Ajax's Edwin van der Sar have been key components behind talks over reform in UEFA's leading competition for a number of years.
Major ESL worry
The 'for the many not the few' sentiment emblazoned across the European Super League propaganda released on Thursday appears to be the source of of great amusement for clubs, pundits and fans alike. A22 Sports Management - the company pushing the modified breakaway league – state their revised plans is good news for those outwith Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus. That sentiment certainly isn't universal and claims an open competition will galvanise those wanting more from UEFA have been challenged on multiple fronts. And that leads us to the next key point.
Mutineers not only revolutionists
Imagine you're Celtic, you return to the Champions League last season and are poised to return again AND sweeping changes are already afoot from within UEFA. The tournament is set for a revamp the season after next with participants increasing from 32 to 36 with 189 games in total compared to current 125 within a new league format.
If evolution is high on the agenda for Celtic and other similar sized clubs across Europe then it's already coming down the pipe. That puts a significant dent into one of the European Super League's biggest pitches in a bid to win hearts and minds.
Tournament royalty
Celtic are previous winners and runners-up of the European Cup – that counts for something. And while the ever increasing strength of the world's biggest clubs within the Champions League is an issue it remains a long shot Celtic would give up their standing within European football's governing body. A legendary atmosphere coupled with three trips to the last 16 in the 21st century certainly cannot be downplayed.
How Celtic work
Fan ire reached a crescendo amid the botched attempt to secure 10 In A Row, however, decision Parkhead decision makers have never wavered from their measured approach. Dermot Desmond and those within the Celtic boardroom have practiced patience and a long-term strategy which has yielded domestic dominance and there is a tangible sense Ange Postecoglou and his dominant side are primed to improve on the continental stage in the coming years. A gamble such as hedging their bets on a European Super League moon shot is a world away from how the Parkhead side do their business. It's a total non-starter.
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