Pep Guardiola admits an isolated Super League is 'not sport'

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that the lack of competitiveness in a Super League would effectively ruin the experience of football.

City are one of 12 sides to have signed up to the breakaway Super League, which would not have any relegation and would instead continue to churn out prize money for the biggest clubs regardless of how they actually perform on the pitch.

Making guaranteed millions is all well and good, but for Guardiola, such an isolated league would lack the key thing that makes any sport enjoyable - competition.

"It's not sport when there is no relation between effort and success, it's not sport," he said (via Sam Lee). "It's not sport if it doesn't matter if you lose. I've said many times I want the best competition as possible. It's not fair if teams fight at the top and cannot qualify."

Like the rest of the managers involved, Guardiola admitted he had no idea the announcement was coming and he was frustrated to be fielding questions on a topic about which nobody has informed him.

"They told me they would release the statement and it is still there but nobody speaks clearly about what it is going to do or create and we are still in this position," he continued.

"It's an honour to speak first for City. I'm a good spokesman. We [managers] talk six times a week, we are asked about the NHS, COVID etc, we can say how we feel but we are not the right people to talk because the presidents are better. It's uncomfortable for us."

When the idea of City and the rest of the clubs only being interested in looking after themselves, Guardiola insisted that it's not just teams who are focused on number one.

"Every club defends its position," he added (via Jonathan Smith). "Don't be cynical. Everyone makes their own interests.

"When you talk about the Premier League and UEFA, they look after their interests. UEFA have also failed. They have to communicate, be in touch."

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