PEP: UEFA PROBE WON’T TARNISH CITY SUCCESS

PEP GUARDIOLA came out swinging amid UEFA’s investigation into Manchester City, claiming the club’s critics are desperate to undermine them. City could face a Champions League ban if found guilty of financial doping following a string of damaging allegations published in German magazine

Der Spiegel. UEFA want to ascertain whether the Premier League champions have broken Financial Fair Play regulations, having fined them £49million for an infringement five years ago. Guardiola said: ‘I trust the club. When you are fighting, people want to underestimate what you achieve. I’m part of the club and back them 100 per cent. ‘I’m not too worried about what people say if we win the title just because of what is happening now with UEFA. They do not give us credit for what we have done. ‘Believe me: I. Don’t. Care. Absolutely zero. What I wish is clarification as quickly as possible. If it is not good then OK, we will accept it. The club made a statement. They clarified that they have absolutely followed the rules. I have known them for a long time. I trust them.’ Officially, City have pointed towards ‘illegal hacking’ and that ‘the accusations of financial irregularities are entirely false’. Part of City’s defence will be to argue that leaked internal emails — detailing conversations surrounding sponsorship, third-party ownership, the