PEP’S READY FOR BATTLE

FROM BACK PAGE would not be tarnished if the club are found guilty of wrongdoing. The City boss (below) said: “When you are fighting, people want to underestimate what you achieve.

“I’m not too much concerned or worried about what people say if we win the title, just because what happens now with UEFA.

“They do not give us credit for what we have done, but believe me – I don’t care. Absolutely zero.

“I know exactly what the guys are doing for the last two seasons and more.

“If we have made mistakes we will be punished – it is what it is, on and off the pitch – but I’m pretty sure what we have done is incredible.

“When we do it, it belongs to us and nobody is going to change that.”

The UEFA probe could lead to a Champions League ban after leaked internal documents suggested income supposedly from sponsors was paid directly by the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.

The Premier League’s move has been driven by City’s domestic rivals, who have contacted our game’s rulers demanding to know what action they intend to take.

City are accused of making an illicit payment of £200,000 to Jadon Sancho’s agent when they signed the England winger (above) – now at Borussia Dortmund – from Watford when he was 14.

The Premier League released a statement last night confirming their investigation into City. “The league has detailed financial regulations and strong rules in the areas of academy player recruitment and third-party ownership,” read the statement.

“We are currently investigating these matters and will allow Manchester City every opportunity to explain the context and detail surrounding them.”

City deny flouting FFP rules and their statement read: “Manchester City welcomes a formal UEFA investigation to end the speculation resulting from the illegal hacking and out of context publication of City emails.

“The accusation of financial irregularities are entirely false.”