MANCHESTER CITY boss Pep Guardiola grinned ear-to-ear at the news of his side’s successful appeal against a two-year Champions League ban.
In a now-deleted Instagram post the City boss, 49, appeared jubilant in a selfie alongside members of his technical staff.
Pep Guardiola could be seen grinning ear-to-ear at the news in a now-deleted Instagram postCredit: Instagram
Since the initial verdict in February, it had appeared that the Citizens would not be taking part in European football for two seasons – with the news even throwing Guardiola’s future at the Etihad into doubt.
But much to the dismay of Chelsea and Manchester United fans, the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled that City did not disguise equity funding as sponsorship”.
And Manel Estiarte, Spanish water polo legend-turned-Guardiola-right-hand-man, took to Instagram to post a celebratory snap.
Captioned: “Yes!!!!!!!!!!”, Guardiola and his staff could be seen grinning gleefully in front of a TV showing Sky Sports News’ coverage of the verdict.
The post may now have been deleted but City’s joy, however, very much lives on.
The Sky Blues have already sealed qualification, sitting second on 72 points – 12 clear of next challengers Chelsea with three matches left to play.
And City could yet stick it to their critics even more, by winning this season’s competition when it gets back underway in Lisbon next month.
Favourites to get the job done over Real Madrid at the Etihad having secured a 2-1 aggregate lead in Spain – City would face the winners of Lyon’s tie with Juventus in the quarter-finals.
Man City hold a 2-1 aggregate lead over Real Madrid in this season’s Round of 16Credit: Reuters
As for who will join them and Liverpool from the Premier League in next season’s competition – the race is set to go down to the wire.
Chelsea currently sit in third on 60 points, one above Leicester City in fourth, and two ahead of United in fifth.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side, however, have a crucial game in hand as they host Southampton this evening.
How the race for the top four looks with three games to go
Man City’s two-year Champions League ban OVERTURNED by CAS
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
