Pep Guardiola is defiant regarding allegations of financial fair play irregularities against Manchester City, stating he does not care what people think.
The manager’s stance came on the day the Premier League announced it was investigating the club over youth player recruitments. Uefa opened a formal investigation into City’s practices on Thursday following claims in the German publication Der Spiegel. The club subsequently issued its first official denial of any wrongdoing and said it welcomed the move.
Der Speigel also published claims of irregularities over the transfer of Jadon Sancho from Watford to City in 2015. It is this the Premier League is thought to be looking into. Yet Guardiola shrugged off what the outside view of the club might be.
Asked if a successful title defence would be devalued if it came via a Liverpool collapse, Guardiola answered by citing the Uefa investigation.
“When you are fighting, people want to underestimate what you achieve,” he said. “I’m not too much concerned or worried about what people say if we win the title just because – [look] what happens now with Uefa: they do not give us credit for what we have done. Believe me, I don’t care – absolutely zero.
“I know exactly what the guys [players] are doing for the last two seasons and more and that is what remains in my feelings. If we have made mistakes [in games] we will be punished – it is what it is on and off the pitch – but I’m pretty sure what we have done is incredible. I don’t know whether it is important for the rest of the people but it is important for ourselves. When we did it [the title] it belongs to us and nobody is going to change that.”
The Premier League’s statement said: “The Premier League has previously contacted Manchester City to request information regarding recent allegations and is in ongoing dialogue with the club. The league has detailed financial regulations and strong rules in the areas of academy player recruitment and third-party ownership. We are currently investigating these matters and will allow Manchester City every opportunity to explain the context and detail surrounding them.”
Regarding the Uefa investigation Guardiola gave an insight into the stance of City’s hierarchy. “They know how people press, push to find something wrong,” he said. “I work with them and have known them for a long time. I trust them a lot. After that we’ll see.
“What I wish is clarification as quickly as possible, for Uefa to see what we have done. If it is not good, then OK, we will accept it. If everything is right, then it will finish and we move forward. I would like a s soon as possible [for it to be over] would be my dream but I don’t know.”
Guardiola is unsure if there is a vendetta against the club. “Ask the people who are pushing us. I don’t know. The club made a statement. They clarified that they have absolutely followed the rules. I cannot say anything else. We have a game [against Watford] and we have a lot of those left. What is going to happen will happen. I don’t like it when people talk about it. I prefer to talk about football. For everybody it’ll be good to clarify.”
While City have not been given any indication when the Uefa investigation will be complete, Guardiola is not concerned his legacy will be tarnished. “No, absolutely not,” the manager said.
Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Fernandinho remain injured for Saturday’s visit of Watford, though Aymeric Laporte could return.