Jamie Carragher takes aim at Pep Guardiola over Man City’s 115 Premier League rule-break charges, telling him ‘I’d probably have a title if Liverpool were nation-state owned’, after boss mocked him and Gary Neville
- Man City accused of complacency after Sunday's 3-3 draw with Tottenham
- Pep Guardiola criticized Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher in a lengthy monologue
- IAN LADYMAN: Liverpool are two players short of another great spell – It all starts
Jamie Carragher has reacted strongly to Pep Guardiola's comments about his inability to win a Premier League title.
Guardiola launched into an extraordinary six-and-a-half-minute monologue on Tuesday, defending his Manchester City players, claiming they will make history this season and leveling accusations of complacency.
Guardiola took aim at Sky Sports pundits Carragher, Micah Richards and Gary Neville, who suggested they are suffering from complacency after last year's Treble.
“Gary Neville knows how difficult it is, otherwise he would have won four Premier Leagues in Manchester United's best period,” Guardiola said. 'But he didn't do it. Maybe they accuse us of complacency because they felt complacency (at United). Maybe they felt it. This team has no chance so far.
“Jamie Carragher hasn't won one (title). Micah Richards didn't win four Premier Leagues in a row. Never. It never happened.
Jamie Carragher has hit back at Pep Guardiola after citing his failure to win the title
The former Liverpool star took to social media to joke about the manager's comments
'To be honest, I have nothing to say about the experts. That's not what it's about (complacency). Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think it's about complacency.”
And Carragher has hit back, saying he would have done so if his club had been in the same boat as City.
He tweeted: 'I think I'd probably have won one if Liverpool were owned by a nation state and pushed the rules so far that the PL would fine us 115 times!
“I was actually praising Pep's team after Sunday's match,” he added with a laughing emoji.”
The Premier League charged City with 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations in February after opening an investigation in 2018.
They have set a date in the fall of 2024 when they will face off before an independent panel in perhaps the largest hearing in the league's history.
Those with knowledge of the situation believe there may not be a conclusion until the end of next season, when City boss Pep Guardiola's current contract expires.
Guardiola criticized Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher in a long monologue on Tuesday
It is understood that what has been a highly confidential process is currently at the stage where witness statements are being taken – which is likely to remain the case until next spring.
If the trial proceeds on time, the verdict is likely around the summer of 2025.
However, delays can cause the procedure to be further postponed. And should either side find the final outcome unpalatable, it would be difficult to imagine a world in which they would not be favored. Such a scenario would add a lot of time.
Should the need arise, City may be able to explore further avenues, although they would not be able to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where they were successful in overturning their UEFA-imposed ban from the Champions League.
