Manchester City have been accused of breaking various Premier League financial rules since the 2009/10 season, just a year after Sheikh Mansour took control of the club. An investigation of the Premier League, which has lasted four years, accumulates more than a hundred charges for the cityzens. Mainly, the league accuses the Mancunians of misrepresenting their financial situation regarding their income as well as hiding details of remuneration from coaches and players to avoid breaking the Financial Fair Play, published daily ACE from Spain.
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In his first press conference after the Premier League made the investigation public, Pep Guardiola recalled how City already dodged similar accusations by UEFA a year ago, and warned sailors: “Be careful in the future.”
When UEFA denounced the club a year ago, you explained that you would leave if Manchester City had cheated on you. Do you still believe in the club?
We’ve already been doomed, that’s how I feel. After Monday, the same thing happened with the UEFA accusations. The club proved his innocence, why wouldn’t he continue to believe in him? There are 19 Premier League teams accusing us… you have to understand whose side I am on.
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Are you saddened that these accusations tarnish what has been achieved during these years?
We are lucky to live in a country and in a society where everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We have not had that opportunity, they have already condemned us. Give us the opportunity to defend ourselves and we will once again prove our innocence. UEFA did not have bad lawyers, and the Premier League, with 19 teams behind it, will not have them either. If we are not innocent we will accept what the Premier League decides. But what happens if we are innocent as happened with UEFA? How are they going to make up for the damage they have done to us?
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What do you think is the objective of the clubs that accuse City?
When UEFA accused us, nine teams asked to be kicked out of the Champions League because they wanted that place: Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea. In this world there are no friends or enemies, there are interests. That’s why they wanted to kick us out. Now it’s the same. The same articles are written, the same accusations are made, the same punishments… we have to go down to fourth because the third is not enough. We have already been in those categories, we are not a team that has won many titles throughout history. It won’t be a problem, we’ll be back. We were not part of the elite, so I understand them. But let them defend us.
What kind of contact have you had with the CEO and the President this week?
The same as when the accusations of UEFA. Now they have more confidence because they have a lot of information. Everyone continues to do their job, us on the pitch and the lawyers in the offices.
Do you think the rest of the clubs have something against City?
Don’t know. But be careful in the future because several clubs could make suggestions and others could be accused as we are. It’s obvious that they want to kick us out of the competition because they think we’re not acting properly, but let them defend us. It happened with UEFA, and now too. They are suggestions.
Does this environment help you to be more determined and hungry for success?
I hope if they kick me out it’s because of the results. I don’t move from this chair, I want to stay here more than ever. It’s normal to doubt sometimes during the seven years I’ve been here, but now I don’t want to leave. We already showed that UEFA was wrong, now the same thing will happen. Why shouldn’t I trust my people? Between the 19 teams and my people, it’s clear to me which side I’m on. I don’t have a second to lose with the rest. We are not alone, we are together. (D)
Source: Eluniverso
Tristin is an accomplished author and journalist, known for his in-depth and engaging writing on sports. He currently works as a writer at 247 News Agency, where he has established himself as a respected voice in the sports industry.
