‘Go to the chairman, CEOs, Daniel Levy, ask THEM’: Pep Guardiola attacks Premier League rivals for driving Man City’s financial rules saga, which could RELEGATE them – and warns them ‘be careful’
- Follow Sportsmail’s live blog as Pep Guardiola addresses Man City’s charges
- City were hit with more than 100 charges by the Premier League this week
- Guardiola has claimed the club’s critics have already made their judgement
Pep Guardiola launched an impassioned defence of Manchester City in the wake of unprecedented Premier League charges and claimed their critics have already condemned them.
City were hit with more than 100 charges relating to financial breaches earlier this week and face a wide range of possible sanctions if found guilty by an independent commission.
The case could take up to four years to reach a conclusion but Guardiola insisted judgement has always been reached by the club’s detractors.
The City boss also took fierce aim at their 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 chairman, CEOs, Daniel Levy, ask them,’ Guardiola said when asked whether he believe the charges had been driven by rival clubs.
Pep Guardiola launched an impassioned defence of Manchester City in the wake of unprecedented Premier League charges
‘My first thought is that we have already been condemned,’ Guardiola said. ‘We are lucky that we live in a marvellous country that everyone is innocent until proven guilty [but] we didn’t have this opportunity. We were already sentenced.
‘Let us defend, please. I’d say they [the club’s board] are more confident. The club talked with all of us. We trained like normal to try and beat Aston Vila. Why should they be distracted? All the big moments belong to us, our fans, our people.
‘We’ve lived this story before. Between the nine teams before, the 19 teams now, I’m sorry I rely on my people.
‘The club talked with all of us. We trained like normal to try and beat Aston Vila. Why should they be distracted? All the big moments belong to us, our fans, our people.’
Asked if the Premier League’s charges have been driven by other teams, Guardiola replied: ‘Yes, of course. What they have done to us, be careful. They have opened a precedent now. A lot of 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 it different? No. The same articles. You have to go to League Two, maybe Conference. We were in Maine Road. Maybe we ask Paul Dickov, Mike Summerbee to come back and we’ll do it again.’
The 52-year-old also committed his future to City, maintaining that he will remain in his post despite the allegations.
‘I’m not moving from this seat, I can assure you,’ he added. ‘More than ever. They didn’t lie to me. Look a UEFA. We didn’t do anything wrong. We proved it. It’s the same case.’
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