Pep Guardiola raises concerns over idea of European 'super league'

Pep Guardiola has raised doubts over the idea of Europe's top clubs breaking away from their domestic leagues to form a 'super league'.

Officials from some of Europe's biggest teams have been discussing the idea of a breakaway to maximise potential television revenue and ensure they are no longer exposed to relegation and potential financial trouble.

Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal were involved in a secret meeting to talk about the idea earlier this month, according to the Sun, which the mentioned clubs have denied.

And Bayern Munich boss Guardiola, who will leave the club to join Manchester City this summer, has raised concerns over what would happen to domestic leagues at such an event.

Ahead of his side's Champions League last-16 second-leg against Juventus, which is level at 2-2, the Spaniard said: "I don't have all the details about what's going on.

"It would be interesting but I don't know what would happen with the domestic leagues. I don't know what would happen to the Bundesliga without Bayern Munich, to the Spanish league without Barcelona or Real Madrid.

"The local leagues are so, so important for team spirit, and the cultural way. I also don't know if it would be good to make a competition without UEFA and FIFA altogether. But I don't have much information about this idea."

Guardiola has confirmed winger Arjen Robben is doubtful for Wednesday clash in Munich with a cold and his team were unable to train on Tuesday because of heavy snowfall.

And the former Champions League winner with Barcelona admits he is braced for accusations that he has taken his eye off the ball after announcing he will leave to join City earlier this season.

"I know what will happen in the coming months if we don't win. Obviously it would be hard for us for the first few days if we lost. But we want to advance," he said.

"I would have liked to have won 5-0 in the first leg but it did not happen so we have to live with that, but we should not look at the result.

"We must play our game. Use our strengths and their weaknesses. We must not only attack but also defend well."