Guardiola fires back at Barca’s president

MANCHESTER City manager Pep Guardiola took aim at the president of his former club Barcelona on Wednesday over comments he had made following Uefa’s two-year European ban imposed on the English champions.

City are appealing against Uefa’s sanction, imposed after they ruled the Premier League club had made “serious breaches” of Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu commented: “I would like to thank Uefa regarding FFP, they’ve been doing fantastic work in the last couple of years. We have regular investigations and we have supported Uefa in everything it does in football.”

Asked about the comments after City’s 2-0 league win over West Ham United, Guardiola, a Barca title winner as a player and coach, said: “If they are happy we are suspended, I say to the president of Barcelona, let us appeal.

“The people (at City) right now trust what they have done so that is what we are going to do. We’re going to appeal and maybe it happens, but don’t talk too loud, Barcelona.

“That is my advice because everybody is involved sometimes in situations. We are going to appeal and hopefully in the future we can play in the Champions League against Barcelona.”

Guardiola says he is “100 percent” certain he will stay at City despite a two-year ban from European football.

There has been speculation over the Spaniard’s future, given his side could be barred from competing in the next two Champions League campaigns but Guardiola, whose contract runs until June 2021, was quick to dismiss such talk.

“Why should I leave? I said a month ago, I love this club, I like to be here. Why should I leave?,” Guardiola told Sky Sports on Wednesday.

“If they don’t sack me I will stay here 100 percent, more than ever. First because I want to stay. It’s something special, more than the contract I have. I said before, I say now, I want to stay and help the club and maintain this level as long as possible.”

City are appealing against the ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland and the club’s hierarchy have insisted they have done no wrong and will prevail.

“We spoke with the players, in the next three months we will focus on what we have to do and after we will see the sentence. Personally, I will be here,” Guardiola told reporters.

“It is so sensitive with the legal (aspect) that I am not the person to talk about that,” he said, when asked about the case

“I know a little bit the reasons why and I support the club 100 percent. I trust what they told me and that is what I can say.”