Pep Guardiola has added fuel to the fire of the Premier League’s historic legal case against Manchester City by claiming the club’s rivals want Manchester City wiped out.
City’s experienced legal team met their league colleagues at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London on Monday as a 10-week hearing began into alleged financial irregularities spanning nine seasons.
The champions face a range of potential punishments if found guilty, from bans from the top flight to points deductions and hefty fines. And on the eve of their clash with title contenders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, Guardiola added fuel to the fire.
“I’m sorry to say I always want to defend my club, especially in these modern times,” said the City manager.
‘It seems like no one expects us to be relegated, they want us to disappear off the face of the earth.
Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s rivals want them out of the way
City could be expelled from the Premier League as their legal case over financial irregularities continues
“I would say we’ve had much better days than our opponents – and that’s why we win a lot. It’s not complicated.”
The timing of Guardiola’s comments is telling given that City are convinced Arsenal played a central role in the appeal to force the Court of Arbitration for Sport to ban them from the Champions League while an appeal against a ban four years ago was heard – which was eventually overturned.
Guardiola has always defended his employers and expects a verdict in the case of more than 100 charges in the new year.
In 2020, the Catalan demanded apologies from rival clubs including Arsenal and used what he called their “whisper campaign” against City as motivation to extend his stay as manager, ultimately winning four consecutive league titles.
Meanwhile, Guardiola insisted that Mikel Arteta will not park the bus again on Sunday, as Arsenal did during the goalless draw in April. However, he indicated that he would have no problem doing so if necessary.
“Mikel knows I’m not going to play for nil-nil and I know he’s not going to play for nil-nil,” he added. “There are very few managers at the top level, at the top six or seven (clubs), who go into the game thinking ‘go for nil-nil.’
‘I would (accept) to sit back for a long, long time and then step over once to score a goal. I swear to God, I would do it. I would do it.
City’s extensive legal team, led by Lord Pannick KC, arrived in London for the start of the trial
Guardiola added fuel to the fire over the legal drama ahead of his team’s clash with Arsenal
‘I desperately, desperately want to win. I live better and everyone is happier and everything is much, much better.
‘I’m so optimistic, I’m so happy with what I saw on Wednesday against Inter.
‘The opponents still know we are there. I like the way we run and the pressure we put against Inter.’