Once again, Manchester City are in the victim role. The Premier League is investigating the club. It’s about possible violations of the league’s financial rules. The association wants to prove its innocence with the best lawyers. And it’s always the other person’s fault.
Pep Guardiola finds himself surrounded by an army of enemies like Julius Caesar in his final hours. The great Roman general, said the star coach of Manchester City in view of the fuss surrounding possible financial offenses by the English soccer champions, was right with his famous sentence: “In this world there are no enemies or friends, only interests.” And the greatest interest of the others, Guardiola emphasized, is to see him and City fall. Just like back then with Caesar.
Speaking of enemies: “Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, United, Liverpool, Chelsea,” Guardiola listed with undisguised disgust – all of these clubs would have liked to see City in the dispute with UEFA over alleged financial irregularities deserved success. “Be careful!” he shouted at them, saying he and City couldn’t be taken down that easily.
The Catalan believes himself and his Abu Dhabi-funded star ensemble are facing an independent Premier League commission as victims of a malicious campaign. “We are fortunate to live in a wonderful country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty,” he said on Friday, emphasizing: “We didn’t have this opportunity, we are already convicted.”
He was “completely convinced of our innocence,” said the 52-year-old, adding threateningly: “We will defend ourselves.” City has “a good lawyer” and the league also needs “good lawyers”. She accuses Manchester of violations in over 100 cases. The Premier League did not provide any information about the possible penalty, the media speculate about a point deduction or even being kicked out of the league.
This has “created a precedent”, said Guardiola, and must “be careful”. After all, other clubs that have been accused of similar offenses are not so innocent. He even believes rival clubs in the league would help take action against City – see above. Should City be found guilty, the club will accept this, said Guardiola defiantly, and if necessary go to the 5th division. “We’ll come back, no problem.” He will “call” the rise heroes Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee, said the former Bayern coach in a touch of sarcasm, and “do it again”.
But it’s not that far, City have also prevailed against UEFA. The guilty verdict of the European Football Union had been overturned by the International Sports Court CAS 2020. Guardiola said he had not spoken to his team around Captain Ilkay Gündogan about the explosive topic. It was also “impossible” to take away all the memories of the many successes from him and the players. As well as? City is “innocent”
