Manchester City have dominated the news in the footballing world this week after they were charged by the Premier League of alleged financial rule breaches.
The Citizens released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming that they've been charged by the league following a four-year investigation. It currently remains to be seen whether any of these breaches will be upheld by the commission or if any punishment will follow.
Now, City boss Pep Guardiola has spoken about the whole situation, claiming that there were nine English clubs that supported UEFA's attempt to banish his side from the Champions League back in 2020. Speaking ahead of Sunday's clash against Aston Villa, Guardiola told our sister title the Manchester Evening News : "Just in case we are not innocent we will accept what the judge, the Premier League decides, but what happens if in the same situation that UEFA happened we are innocent, what happens to restore or pay back our damage?
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"Because the damage is now for one decade, eight, nine, 10. One week later, UEFA make a statement against us, nine teams - Burnley, Wolves, Leicester, Newcastle, Spurs, Arsenal, [Manchester] United, Liverpool, Chelsea - [write a letter wanting us] out of the Champions League, that they wanted that position.
"Like Julius Caesar, they are not in this world, they are not enemies or friends, just interests. They wanted to put it out to take that position that we won on the pitch, take it in our position."
City are currently locked in a Premier League title battle with Arsenal, who find themselves five points clear of the reigning champions despite having played one less league match this term. The two title rivals will battle it out at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night in a highly-anticipated encounter between Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his former mentor Guardiola.
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