Pep Guardiola Launches Fiery Defence Of ‘Innocent’ Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has passionately responded by defending Manchester City, after the club was issued with over 100 charges by the Premier League in relation to their financial activity over a 14-year-period.

City face an uncertain future, after being dealt over 100 charges by the Premier League following an investigation into the club’s financial activity.

The club issued a response, adamant that they had done nothing wrong, and are expected to enter a legal battle in an attempt to clear their name of any wrongdoing.

Pep Guardiola’s Comments

Unsurprisingly, it was a major topic of conversation in Guardiola’s Friday-afternoon press conference ahead of City’s Premier League tie against Aston Villa on Sunday.

“My first thought is we’re already being condemned.” Guardiola said.

“It’s the same with UEFA (when City were accused in 2020), we were already condemned. The club proved we were completely innocent. You know on what side I am. We are lucky we live in a country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

“It seems like we have already been sentenced. What is going to happen, I don’t know. We think we have good lawyers and I think we are going to defend our position. Time will depend what happens. We will see what a judge, the Premier League decides. In the same way with UEFA, we are innocent.

“(If City are found guilty and punished) we will be back. We will get Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee and be back. The club, they talk to all of us, but we have trained like normal to get ready for Aston Villa. The last seven years have been for us, our fans and our people. The court will dictate what happens. I am fully convinced that we will be innocent.

“In this country, everyone is innocent until proven guilty. UEFA’s sentence wasn’t even that. It is now down to the lawyers of both sides to defend one side and the other one. It will be longer than one month, two months and three months. We know what happened with UEFA and we will see that.”

Earlier in the week, suggestions were made that Guardiola could be on his way out of the door if City were found guilty.

The Spaniard rubbished these rumours, stating that he is at the Etihad to stay.

“I am not moving from this seat. I can assure you more than ever that I want to stay. More than ever.

“They (the board) did not lie to me. Look what happened with UEFA, we did not do anything wrong. Why should I not trust my people?”

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