Thierry Henry has joined the voices that have been criticizing the owner of Arsenal football club, Stan Kroenke, for signing the club up for the failed European Super League.
The club’s former captain and all-time highest goalscorer said he was surprised just like every fan of the club that Arsenal signed up for the league. Thierry Henry described Stan Kroenke’s decision to sign up the club for the league as a “badly wrong” decision.
Recall that Arsenal was one of the 12 top clubs in Europe that signed up for the European Super League which was organized to rival the UEFA Champions League. The club, however, bowed to pressure by withdrawing from the league but fans of to club are yet to forgive the club’s owner Stan Kroenke. They have continued to agitate against his reign at the club especially after the European Super League saga.
Due to how fierce the protest against the American businessman has been, speculation has started flying that the club’s owner was planning to sell the club. However, his son, Josh Kroenke, who also acts as the club’s director insisted that the club was not for sale.
Despite that, a Swedish billionaire Daniel Ek – co-founder and chief executive of music streaming service Spotify, tweeted that he was interested in buying the club. He had to declare his interest to buy the club because Arsenal reportedly signed up for the European Super League due to the financial difficulties at the club.
Hence, Thierry Henry wondered whether Arsenal decided to sign up for the Super League because the money the league offered was that tempting. He also wondered whether the handlers of the club understand the core football values of the club.
“I do not recognize my club and what happened just now, with them trying to join a league that would have been closed, makes no sense to me,” Henry told the Telegraph.
“They have been running the club like a company, not a football club, and they showed their hand.
“Maybe it’s a lack of understanding of the core football values and maybe the money was too big of a temptation. But whatever it was, they got it wrong. Badly wrong.
“I was genuinely shocked like most people and couldn’t believe what was unfolding.
“I have never talked before, but what happened recently made me realize fans, this is your club. It is your club and I’m an Arsenal fan too.
“I’m proud of what the fans achieved. Not just Arsenal fans, all the fans. The result was a victory for football.”
Super League: #GlazersOut banner flew over Elland Road
Ahead of the Manchester United Premier League match against Leeds United on Sunday, April 25, 2021, the fans of Manchester United flew a banner over Elland Road, the home stadium of Leeds United, to ask for the club’s owner, the Glazer family, to leave the club.
The banner the fans flew before the Premier League match had the caption: “2bn stolen #GlazersOut”. This was one of the couples of efforts the club’s fans have been making to force the family out of the club.
Their agitation against the club’s owners became more intense after the Glazer family signed up the club for the failed European Super League.
A joint statement the Manchester United’s fans issued after the appearance of the banner read: “Since their leveraged takeover in 2005, The Glazers have cost Manchester United over £2bn in interest payments, dividends, debt, directors fees, debt repayments, and share sales.
“The message is very simple – You are not welcome in Manchester.
“Enough is enough. It is too late for apologies. Your time is up. #GlazersOut”.
At the end of the day, the Premier League match between Manchester United and Leeds United ended in a 0-0 draw.
