Chief executive wants to maintain competitive dynamic of EPL
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore hopes Chelsea don’t retain their title in order to maintain the Premier League’s competitive edge.
The 59-year-old believes the league will benefit from the struggling Blues not retaining their title, as the Premier League currently sees Leicester City top the table.
Chelsea are 14 points short of league leaders Leicester in 15th, five points off the relegation zone and 12 points off a Champions League place.
“The only thing that matter is that we put on the most competitively intense competition we can attracting the world’s best players, trying to attract the world’s best managers, trying to grow the league.” Scudamore told CNN.
“And so, no disrespect to Chelsea, we like the idea that the champions are not the champions next year.
“In some ways, we like a new name on the trophy every year because it shows the competitive dynamic of the league.”
Premier League shake up
Asides from the Foxes topping the league table ahead of the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal, West Ham are three points off a Europa League place in sixth, while newly-promoted Watford are doing well to stay clear of the relegation zone.
Although no one expects Leicester to stay at the top for long, it provides the competitive quality that Scudamore and the rest of the Premier League has been hoping for.
“So this season more than ever is a mix with Leicester doing so well, West Ham doing so well, Crystal Palace doing so well.” Scudamore added.
The chief executive has shunned suggestions of a 39th league game abroad, suggesting it would not go down with fans of Premier League clubs.
“Only because I think the fan reaction to it has been so negative in the UK,” said Scudamore.
“And until you can get them more comfortable with the idea, I don’t think it is going to happen.”
