PEP GUARDIOLA had a face of thunder when he was seen for the first time since the news of Manchester City’s alleged financial breaches broke.
The Premier League released the shocking findings of their four-year investigation yesterday morning, plummeting the champions into turmoil.
But Guardiola, 52, quickly had to put the bombshell, unprecedented allegations aside to prepare for Sunday’s home clash with Aston Villa.
The City boss was pictured sitting on a drinks cooler box as he watched his players in action, seemingly deep in touch.
On the pitches, his players got on with their drills, less than 24 hours after the defeat to Tottenham in North London.
Guardiola had complained about the “exhausting” trip to the capital – but clearly had little sympathy for his stars following the loss.
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It seems those who did not start the match – such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Kalvin Phillips – were called in and put through their paces.
On the pitch, Guardiola will be plotting how to beat Aston Villa when they arrive at the Etihad.
And off the pitch, Guardiola has plenty to think about too.
The Premier League accused City of breaching more than 100 financial rules and failing to cooperate with the investigation.
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The charges relate to hiding the true source of income, lying about the salaries of players and ex-manager Roberto Mancini as well as breaking Premier League and Uefa regulations.
If found guilty by an independent commission, City’s punishment is still unclear but could include transfer bans, points deductions, spending limits, stripping of titles and even expulsion from the Premier League.
Their top-flight rivals will demand City are relegated – although there is no guarantee they could drop into the EFL.
Angry City insisted they would be “vindicated” in a defiant statement, but Premier League clubs want blood and a swift verdict AND punishment before the end of the season.
One club chief said: “If these charges are proven there must be proper punishment – and the only fitting one is for them to be relegated.
“We’re talking about a decade of alleged abuses and want the Premier League to do the right thing.”
Should they be found guilty, the ramifications could be catastrophic for City – and even Pep Guardiola.
The ex-Barcelona boss threatened to quit as manager if it transpired the club’s owners had lied to him about any wrongdoing.
Speaking in August 2022, he declared he would not want to be in charge of a club that he felt had breached financial fair play rules.
Guardiola said: “I said to our people, ‘Tell me’ about the suspicions. I looked at them and believed them 100 per cent from day one so I defended the club because of that.
“I did say, ‘If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and you will not be my friend any more.’
“I like to represent a club that is doing things properly. In the end, it’s not about winning the Champions League or Premier League, it’s about always doing it well, for our people and our fans.
“What CAS said meant a lot. It broke all the suspicion.
“I can not forget that nine teams in the Premier League pushed to sack Manchester City from European competitions, I know who they are.”
As the club did in 2020 with the Uefa appeal, the Etihad side have always denied wrongdoing and will likely establish a significant legal team of expert lawyers to fight their case, even if they cannot take it to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
City have until February 23 to respond to the charges, by which time leading KC Murray Rosen, head of the League’s Judicial Panel, will have confirmed the make-up of the three-member commission, which will be headed by a senior lawyer.
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While the Premier League could not give a timescale last night, that could allow a hearing by as early as next month.
However, both parties would be entitled to ask for an appeal panel to hear the evidence again if the verdict went against them.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
