Manchester United and Manchester City joined the rest of the Premier League in the unanimous decision to reject proposed changes to the format of the Champions League.
The chairmen of each top-division club met in London on Friday to wade through proposals made by UEFA and the European Club Association, which sought to alter the group-stage format of the Champions League in a move that would wipe out the race for the top four positions in the Premier League.
The motion set out to shake up the opening stages of the Champions League proper, with four groups of eight teams as opposed to eight groups of four.
That would see each club play 14 group games rather than the six currently played before Christmas. The move would have a considerable impact on English clubs who already face a hectic schedule with commitments in the Premier League and Carabao Cup during that time.
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Qualification to Europe's top competition would also change under the proposals. The ECA want to ensure the path to the Champions League is based on historical success which would, in turn, remove the reward for a top-four finish in the Premier League.
Following the meeting between Premier League clubs' chairmen on Friday, which Manchester United's executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward attended, the following joint statement was released.
It read: "All clubs unanimously agreed it is inappropriate for European football bodies to create plans that would alter the structures, calendar and competitiveness of the domestic game and will work together to protect the Premier League.
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"In England, football plays an important role in our culture and everyday life. Millions of fans attend matches across the country, with allegiances and local rivalries often passed down through generations. We have a fantastic combination of competitive football and committed fans that we will vigorously defend.
"The structures of domestic football are determined by leagues and their respective national associations. We will now work with the FA and other leagues to ensure that European football bodies understand the importance of this, and their obligation to maintain the health and sustainability of domestic league football."
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