Pep Guardiola calls out other 19 Premier League teams, says Manchester City are 'already being condemned'
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Updated 10/02/2023 at 17:06 GMT
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola opened up in an extraordinary press conference on Friday, where he gave detailed answers about allegations of financial breaches by the Premier League champions. At the start of this week, the Premier League revealed it had charged City for over 100 breaches of financial rules after a four-year investigation. City stated they were "surprised" by the charge.
Man City have 'already been condemned' - Guardiola on club's financial charges
Pep Guardiola has called out the other 19 teams in the Premier League during a press conference where he responded to allegations of financial breaches by Manchester City.
On Monday, the Premier League released a statement saying City had been charged with over 100 breaches of financial rules following a four-year investigation.
The alleged breaches mainly span a period of nine seasons leading up to and including 2017/18 - as well as a number of breaches from December 2018.
City were found guilty of committing "serious breaches" of UEFA's Financial Fair Play regulations in 2020 but a two-year ban from European competition was overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
"We are already being condemned," began Guardiola ahead of his side's clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.
"What's happened this week, it's the same that happened with UEFA - we were condemned, we had an accusation then, now we have just charges.
"What they told me before, the club proved we were completely innocent. Why should we not think we are innocent?
"You have to understand the 19 teams in the Premier League are accusing without letting us have an opportunity to defend.
"In the words of my club, my owner, my chairman, my CEO, my people explain everything in the last three or four years. You know exactly what side I am [on]."
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Pep Guardiola durante Real Madrid-Manchester City - Champions League 2021-22
Image credit: Getty Images
He added: “What’s going to happen, I don’t know? Personally I’m happy we’re here because UEFA happened, we had a chance to defend. I think we had good lawyers, but we cannot say UEFA had bad lawyers.
“The Premier League, supported by 19 teams, are going to have good lawyers to, to defend their position, like we will defend our position.
"Time will dictate what is going to happen. Just in case we are not innocent, we will accept what the judge or the Premier League decides."
City stated they were “surprised” by the allegations and Guardiola made numerous references to UEFA’s investigation from three years ago when they were originally banned from European competition.
Guardiola also named Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy in his press conference: "What happened with UEFA happened today. Nineteen teams are accusing us. There are suggestions. I don't know. You'll have to go to the CEOs, Daniel Levy, and ask them."
He said the club are “innocent until proven guilty” and would rely on the word of his club rather than their Premier League rivals, while he also addressed the threat of relegation.
“In the same situation, with UEFA we are innocent, what happened to restore or payback our damage?” Guardiola added.
“The damage is now. When UEFA make a sentence against us, nine teams – Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Liverpool, Chelsea - were out of the Champions League but they wanted this [City's] position [in the competition].
“There are no enemies or friends, just interests. They wanted to take our position [in the Champions League]. This situation is absolutely zero difference.
“It's the same articles, same accusations. You have to go to League One, League Two, no not enough, maybe Conference. We have been in lower divisions.
“If we go back there it's not a problem for us, we will call Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee...and we will be back I'm pretty sure, if we go there. But they should wait because [only] in the end is it decided what happens, and they didn't wait in the UEFA situation.”
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