Ed Woodward plays victim card after European Super League failure

Florentino Perez and Zinedine Zidane File Photo File photo dated 08-08-2017 of Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane left shakes hands with Manchester United, ManU vice-chairman Ed Woodward and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez right after the UEFA Super Cup match at the Philip II Arena, Skopje, Macedonia. Issue date: Monday April 26, 2021. FILE PHOTO Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xNickxPottsx 59420382

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has lifted the lid on recent conversations with both Ed Woodward and Joel Glazer following the European Super League embarrassment.

Twelve clubs including Manchester United were the founding members of the failed ESL.

It is understood that Woodward is playing the victim ‘I didn’t know’ card, while Glazer apologised and promised they won’t not make the same mistake again.

Woodward has resigned amid heated fan backlash against United’s involvement, but the truth of the matter is he was never a popular figure among fans and most, if not all, will be happy to see the back of him.

President of UEFA, Ceferin, reveals recent talks with Woodward and Glazer took place.

“He said he didn’t know that if [ESL] was happening. But, I don’t know,” Ceferin told The Telegraph. “I don’t want to accuse him or not. I have not said anything about him to anyone else.

“I just said he called me and said the reforms [of the Champions League] are good. Maybe he was honest back then, I don’t know. But he [later] wanted to explain that he didn’t know it [the ESL] was ever happening. That’s as much as I know.”

Meanwhile, it sounds like Glazer is aware of the sanctions which could be imposed on United as a result.

Ceferin added: “I spoke with Joel Glazer and he was honest when he said ‘look we made a mistake. We know we have to suffer sanctions and we will never do it again’. I believe him.”

Only time will tell what sanctions United and the other 12 clubs face. I’d imagine Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona face fierce punishment for their attempts to see the ESL through.

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