Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola spoke out against the proposals for a ‘closed-shop’ European Super League that his own club have signed up to as opposition to the plans ramped up on Tuesday.

While insisting he wanted to learn more about the details of the plans and admitting he felt uncomfortable answering questions on it, Guardiola was clear on his views of any competition in which there is no promotion of relegation.

“It is not a sport where the relation between effort and success does not exist,” Guardiola said.

“I have been consistent on this since the very beginning. As a football club, we are a family and a community whose fabric is our fans – I believe we shouldn’t forget this…

“We believe that any proposal without the support of UEFA – an organisation that has been working to progress the interests of European football for nearly 70 years – does not resolve the issues currently facing the football community, but is instead driven by self-interest.”

Bayern president Herbert Hainer said: “Our members and fans reject a Super League.

“As FC Bayern, it is our wish and our aim that European clubs live the wonderful and emotional competition that is the Champions League, and develop it together with UEFA. FC Bayern says ‘no’ to the Super League.”