‘I DID NOT ASK UEFA FOR REAL FAVOUR’
PEP GUARDIOLA denies claims he has influenced UEFA into allowing Manchester City to stage their Champions League clash with Real Madrid at the Etihad.
Club bosses are increasingly confident of being given the green light to host Real in the second leg of their last-16 tie at the start of next month.
Guardiola’s men hold a 2-1 lead from the away leg played before the season went into lockdown because of Covid-19.
In the wake of the pandemic, UEFA announced the tournament would be completed in Portugal’s capital Lisbon once the season resumed.
UEFA wanted all 12 outstanding last-16 games across the Champions League and Europa League to be in the same countries as their ‘Final 8’ knockout tournaments.
Reports in Spain claim City will be at home, after Guardiola, left, intervened ahead of tomorrow’s executive meeting of UEFA. But he insisted: “I am not strong
enough to have this impact. I am not the president. They (UEFA) have protocols. I have never spoken with UEFA. I’ve said many times that we want to play in Manchester but we are going to accept whatever UEFA decide.
“What I want is to play against Real Madrid. This is what I want, but I didn’t make phone calls, I don’t have this power.”
Before facing Zinedine Zidane’s side, City will discover if their appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA for breaching FFP rules has been successful.
The verdict from the Court of Arbitration for Sport is due on Monday and Guardiola is refusing to comment on the possible outcome and ramifications for himself and his stars.
City’s manager added: “On July 10 it is the Champions League draw and on the 13th will be the sentence. After that, I will give my opinion.”