PEP’S FAIR PLAY
‘I’d have quit if club hadn’t been straight with me’
PEP GUARDIOLA claimed he would have quit Manchester City if they had lied to him over Financial Fair Play allegations.
The Catalan coach has consistently defended City over accusations they broke FFP rules with illegal sponsorship deals funded by the club’s Abu Dhabi owners.
And he has revealed he threatened to walk away from the club in a tense meeting with City’s hierarchy if they did not tell him the truth over their FFP dealings.
The City boss said: “Every single word I have said in all my conferences, even if people don’t believe it, every word I said, I said was because I truly, truly believe it.
“If I defend the people and the club it’s because I work with them.
“When I asked about suspicions or if our people have done something, then I said to them, ‘Tell me.’
“I said to them: ‘If you lie to me, the day after I’m not here, I will be out and you will not be my friend anymore’.
“But I look at them and believe them 100 percent from day one. So I defend the club because of that.
“When we put something like a sponsorship on the shirt people say it’s overpaid.
“They say the money has come from the state and other places – but the money is correct. It might be higher, but it is correct. They have to handle that.”
Blueprint
Guardiola’s revelation came as Newcastle – backed by a Saudiarabian state investment fund – arrive at the Etihad today with suspicions that their bid to fast-track to football’s top table might bring similar allegations.
But Guardiola believes Newcastle intend to try to follow the City blueprint to success.
“I think their intention is the same,” added Guardiola.
“I think that’s what they are trying to do.
Will they do it I don’t know, but they will try.”
German newspaper Der Spiegel made allegations that City had broken rules over sponsorship, made illegal payments to talented underage players and paid compensation to former boss Roberto Mancini (below) via a fictitious consultancy role.
Following a UEFA investigation City were fined £24.9million and banned from European competition for two years in 2020. City appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport who overturned the UEFA ruling, although the club were fined
£9m for failing to cooperate.
Guardiola said: “What CAS said means a lot to us. In the end it broke all the suspicion. Nine teams in the Premier League wanted to sack Manchester City from European competitions.
“I know who they are, so I liked it when CAS did that, and they did it properly.”
Guardiola and his stars were devastated by their shock Champions League semifinal exit at Real Madrid and must now secure a fourth Premier League title in five years to rescue their season.
But despite their Euro disappointment Guardiola insists City’s domestic record should not be overlooked.
“I understand both sides. The Champions League is so attractive and the emotion it brings.
Jealous
“The people say the Champions League or Premier League, but both are awesome.
“I am jealous of the emotions Madrid fans had after our game because it’s like, wow. It’s like Sergio Aguero scoring after 93 minutes and 20 seconds.
“I wasn’t here then but I saw the clips, a decade ago, and think what a moment.
“We are fighting for the last three or four years with this team in the Premier League and we are there again which is fantastic.”