Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has pledged to defend against critics who want the club to be ‘wiped off’ the face of the earth.
City are ongoing with all fingers crossed on what will be the fate of the club after the proceedings.
The seven-time Premier League Champions were slammed with 115 charges for breaching financial regulations and failure to cooperate with the Premier League on their investigations.
According to The BBC, City will learn their fate in 10 weeks from the start of the legal proceedings, which began on Monday, September 16, 2024.
This means the case will be concluded in the last week of December 2024 or the first week of January 2025. Manchester City have insisted they are innocent of the charges. However, the decision of the Independent Commission will reign supreme after the trial.
Pep Guardiola takes a swipe on Man City haters amidst ongoing trail
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been indifferent to the legal proceedings. The Spaniard stated that the club would accept whatever judgment from the Independent Commission.
However, he has been openly explosive on critics who want Manchester City punished for the alleged offenses.
In his recent interview ahead of the club’s Premier League matchday five clash with Arsenal, Pep Guardiola fired shots at such critics, who doesn’t only want Manchester City punished but to be ‘wiped off’ the surface of the earth.
“…but I would say – I’m sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not [only] to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world – that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That’s why we win a lot.”
Guardiola’s statement is particularly a swipe at some Premier League pundits who have begrudged the team’s achievement due to the allegations of financial irregularities.
In December 2023, Guardiola personally tackled Liverpool legend and pundits Jamie Carragher for screwing the team due to a late relapse in the 2023-24 Premier League campaign.
Carragher claimed Man City were suffering from complacency after winning three consecutive Premier League titles. In response, Guardiola launched a tirade on the Liverpool legend for not winning the Premier League even once during his career.
The Spaniard’s fiery response was met with a strong reply by Carragher, who said he would have probably won a Premier League title if Liverpool were backed by a nation-state and breached several Premier League regulations.
Carragher’s response was a subtle dig on Man City for shortchanging the wheels to dominate the English top flight in recent years.
Pep Guardiola’s latest diatribe seeks to put such critics in their places while reaffirming his support for the team.
Manchester City possible punishment if indicted
Manchester City could, in theory, face a points deduction serious enough to condemn them to relegation – or even expulsion – from the Premier League, if found to have breached regulations.
It is alleged City breached the Premier League’s financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The club has won eight league titles, multiple cups, and the Champions League since their 2008 takeover by the Abu Dhabi United Group.
Manchester City were charged and referred to an independent commission in February 2023 following a four-year investigation. The club is hoping to come out unscathed from the allegations.
