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‘Go to the Chairman, CEOs, Daniel Levy, ask THEM’: Pep Guardiola attacks Premier League rivals for pushing Man City’s financial rules saga, which could REMOTE THEM, and warns them ‘be careful’
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Pep Guardiola has launched an impassioned defense of Manchester City following the unprecedented Premier League charges and claimed their critics had already condemned them.
City was handed over 100 charges related to financial violations earlier this week and faces a wide range of potential penalties if found guilty by an independent commission.
The case could take up to four years to reach a conclusion, but Guardiola insisted that the club’s detractors have always come to trial.
The City manager also took fierce aim at his rivals after nine clubs wrote to UEFA to uphold a two-year Champions League ban during an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“Go to the president, to the chief executives, Daniel Levy, ask them,” Guardiola said when asked if he believed the charges had been pushed by rival clubs.
Pep Guardiola launched passionate Manchester City defense following unprecedented Premier League charges
“My first thought is that we have already been doomed,” Guardiola said. “We are lucky to live in a wonderful country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.” [but] we did not have this opportunity. We were already sentenced.
‘Let’s defend ourselves, please. I would say that they [the club’s board] they have more confidence. The club spoke to all of us. We train as always to try to beat Aston Vila. Why should they be distracted? All the great moments belong to us, to our fans, to our people.
We have lived this story before. Between the nine teams before, the 19 now, I’m sorry, I depend on my people.
The club spoke to all of us. We train as always to try to beat Aston Vila. Why should they be distracted? All the great moments belong to us, to our fans, to our people.
Asked if the Premier League charges have been pushed by other teams, Guardiola replied: ‘Yes, of course. What they have done to us, be careful. Now they have opened a precedent. Many clubs can be accused.
‘What happened to restore the damage after UEFA? Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle Spurs, United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea wanted us out of the competition.
‘Is different? No. The same items. You have to go to League Two, maybe to the Conference. We were on Maine Road. Maybe we’ll ask Paul Dickov, Mike Summerbee to come back and we’ll do it again.
The 52-year-old has also pledged his future with City, saying he will remain in his job despite the allegations.
“I will not move from this seat, I assure you,” he added. ‘More than ever. They didn’t lie to me. Look at a UEFA. We didn’t do anything wrong. We prove it. It is the same case.