Josep Guardiola appeared in response to Manchester City’s struggle with the Premier League and insisted he would not leave the club.
Speaking in defense of his employers, who were accused by the league this week of more than 100 alleged financial wrongdoings, Guardiola insisted he still believed City were innocent while lashing out at rival Premier League clubs.
“Go to the chairman, CEOs, [Tottenham chairman] Daniel Levy, ask her,” he said. “These 19 Premier League clubs have set a precedent. that she [rival PL clubs] done to us, be careful with that.
“Now they are setting a precedent for what they have done to us, be careful because in the future many clubs may make proposals and there are many clubs that can be blamed, as they accuse us, without being innocent,” he said. . called.
“I don’t know what will happen in the future. I may have an opinion and a hunch, but if they insist on getting us out of this league, then it’s obviously because they think we misbehaved, and we can accept it, but let’s protect us, when we think we’re fine.
“We are not part of the founding of this league but at the same time I understand that they can do it, but please let’s defend.”
Guardiola had previously vowed to leave the club should it ever be revealed that the city’s owner had lied to him and the authorities after being indicted by UEFA on a range of charges. But the city manager has insisted he believes his bosses following the Premier League accusations, dismissing suggestions that the club’s troubles could see him leave Etihad.
“Hopefully the results are the only reason they will fire me,” Guardiola said.
“This is why managers leave their posts or stay in them. And I think in this situation we will decide together because of mutual trust. But I can’t get up from this chair. I can assure you more than ever that I want to stay.
“Sometimes I have doubts, seven years is a long time for any country. I don’t want to move now. Not because people say they lied to you, Pep. You didn’t lie to me. Look what happened to UEFA.
“I told them: “What happened? Pep, we didn’t do anything wrong. We have proven it. This is the same case.
“Why should I [not] Do you trust my people? Why should I trust the CEOs or owners of 19 clubs, nine clubs like UEFA?
“No, I trust my people. Between you and my people, I trust my people. Not a second for the rest.”
Guardiola has repeatedly pointed out that City were found “not guilty” following a UEFA investigation into alleged wrongdoing, although it was technically the Court of Arbitration for Sport that ruled in favor of the club on procedural issues.
But the City boss insisted that his club was now innocent until proven guilty, and especially scorned the nine rival clubs that launched the Premier League investigation in the first place after the UEFA allegations.
“Personally, I’m glad we’re here,” he said. “Like UEFA, we have a chance to defend ourselves. I think we have good lawyers, but we cannot say that UEFA had bad, bad lawyers.
“I think the Premier League, which has 19 teams behind it, will also have good lawyers to defend their position as we will defend our position. I would like to wait and time will tell what will happen.
“If we are not innocent, then we will accept what the Premier League referee decides, but what happens if we are innocent in the same situation as UEFA, what will happen to repair or repair our damages?”
“Because the damage has been going on for ten years. A week later, UEFA makes a statement against us, nine teams – Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Liverpool, Chelsea – [write a letter wanting us] from the Champions League that they wanted this position.
“Like Julius Caesar, there are no enemies or friends in this world, only interests. They wanted to bring him out to take the position we had won on the field, our position. Now is no different from being absolutely zero. The same articles, the same accusations, everything is the same.”
The extensive series of accusations against City could bring dramatic punishment to the club, with some observers even talking about a possible relegation.
It was an opportunity the city manager had faced earlier when City were kicked out of the Champions League before CAS gave them a reprieve.
“We have to get out of the Champions League, now we have to go to the first league – no, that’s not enough, to the second league or maybe the Conference,” he said sarcastically.
“We are not a team with a long history or titles, we have been in the minor leagues and will return there. It’s not a problem, just in case.
“We’re going to get Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee, we’ll do well and come back, I’m pretty sure. But they have to wait because at the end of the day the Premier League decides that we will defend, as we did with UEFA.”
While Guardiola clearly held a grudge against the nine clubs that filed the formal complaint, he also warned of the dangers of such a precedent.
Source: I News
I’m Dave Martin, and I’m an experienced journalist working in the news industry. As a part of my work, I write for 24 News Reporters, covering mostly sports-related topics. With more than 5 years of experience as a journalist, I have written numerous articles on various topics to provide accurate information to readers.