Rio Ferdinand believes Pep Guardiola has been told in no uncertain terms that Manchester City will be cleared of their Premier League charges.
Earlier this week, the reigning champions were accused of more than 100 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018. The bombshell came after a four-year investigation, with bosses at the Etihad confident they have nothing to hide.
Guardiola faced the music on Friday, when he became the first public-facing figure to answer questions on the investigation. And the legendary boss came out swinging in a fiery press conference, where he attempted to turn the spotlight back on their top-flight rivals.
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand, who was denied a league title during the period now under investigation, thinks Guardiola’s response offered a clear-cut insight into the ongoing conversations behind closed doors.
He told BT Sport: “It just screamed to me that he’s obviously had a real in-depth conversation with the powers that be at the club, and they’ve given him an answer in terms of they are innocent, that they haven’t broken any of the rules.
“I don’t see Pep Guardiola coming out - listen, he’s an intelligent guy, he’s experienced enough in this game, and he’s not going to pin himself to something where there could be holes in that.
Ferdinand added:” I think the board and the owners have said ‘listen, we are not guilty, stay with us, trust us - you’ve trusted us to this point - you have to come with us again.’ I think they’ve shown him that and he’s gone ‘do you know what? This is my family and I’m going to stick with them.’”
In a memorable press conference, Guardiola nailed his colours to the mast, insisting he will stay at City regardless and claiming the accusations had opened up a dangerous precedent for other clubs.
“My first thought is we are already being condemned. What has happened after Monday is the same as happened with UEFA. We were condemned,” Guardiola said.
“19 teams of the Premier League is accusing us without the chance to defend and the words of my chairman, my CEO and my owner explain everything, you know what side I am on.”
“They've opened a precedent right now. What they've done to us – be careful in the future. Many clubs can make a suggestion and there are a lot of clubs who could be accused like we have been accused without being innocent.”
Guardiola continued: “I can assure you, more than ever I want to stay. Sometimes I have doubts, seven years already is a long time. Now I don't want to go. Not because people say they lied to you Pep. They didn't lie to me. Look what happened with UEFA. It is the same case. Why should I not trust my people? The CEOs of the 19 clubs, not my people.”
