Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has stated that Premier League clubs are hoping to see his team face sanctions for alleged breaches of financial regulations. The hearing into the 115 charges against City is set to begin on Monday, following a four-year investigation by the Premier League that concluded rules had been violated. Originally scheduled for November, the trial has been brought forward as City aims to prove their innocence and clear their name.
City asserts that they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” in their defense. However, they believe their rivals are eagerly awaiting punishment for them. La Liga president Javier Tebas, a long-standing critic of City who has accused them of “financial doping,” suggested that many Premier League clubs share this sentiment.
During a press conference on Friday, Guardiola reiterated his belief in City’s innocence but acknowledged that his Premier League adversaries do not share the same view. He agreed with Tebas for the first time and urged both him and other Premier League teams to wait for the independent panel’s decision.
Guardiola said, “Justice is there in a modern democracy. It’s not more complicated than that.” He also questioned whether Tebas or other Premier League teams were lawyers and emphasized how similar situations had unfolded with UEFA in the past.
The hearing is expected to last ten weeks, and Guardiola expressed his anticipation for its conclusion: “It starts soon and hopefully finishes soon… I am looking forward to the decision.” He acknowledged that there will likely be rumors and speculation surrounding the case but stressed that everyone should remember the principle of innocence until proven guilty.
Guardiola remains optimistic about clearing City’s name through due process while emphasizing respect for an independent panel’s judgment.
