Pep Guardiola has admitted he ‘cannot forget’ Liverpool and the eight other Premier League sides who attempted to support Manchester City’s European ban two years ago.
City were handed a Champions League ban back in February 2020 after UEFA found them guilty of a ‘serious breach’ of financial fair play regulations. They later appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), who agreed to overturn the ruling.
Liverpool, along with Arsenal, Burnley, Chelsea, Leicester City, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves, wrote to CAS and opposed City asking for a "stay of execution" but were unsuccessful in their efforts to see the Etihad outfit punished.
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"What CAS said means a lot to all of us, in the end, it breaks all the suspicions. I cannot forget nine teams in the Premier League who want to sack Manchester City from the league and the European competitions, these nine teams push and I know here [in my head] who they are,” said Guardiola.
“I like when CAS said at that moment we did it properly. It's a situation in 2012 or 2013, I was still in Barcelona, most of the people running that are not here now, but of course, I would not like it, what I like is to represent a club who do things properly [and] well, it's not about winning the Champions League and the Premier League, we want to do well for our people and our fans."
City’s Abu Dhabi owners have come under criticism throughout their spell in charge of the club, although Guardiola has continued to stick by and support decisions they have made. The CAS appeal was a prime example of the Catalan coach refusing to speak out against majority owner Sheikh Mansour, something he stands by to this day.
"I am the spokesman for this club and every few days I'm here [in a press conference]. Every single word I said in all my press conferences, even if people don't believe me, is because I truly, truly believe it. Why did I defend the club and the people? It's because I work with them," said Guardiola.
"When they are accused of something I ask them 'tell me about that', they explain and I believe them. I said to them 'if you lie to me, the day after I am not here'. I will be out and I will not be your friend anymore. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that. When you put something here [sponsor on a shirt] it's overpaid, but other [clubs] the money comes from the USA but the money is correct, even if it's higher. We have to deal with that, we have to fight with that."
Newcastle United, who City host in the Premier League on Sunday, have become the latest club to seek investment from the Far East and have risen up the table following their £300million, Saudi-Arabia takeover being completed back in October.
The Magpies have since faced similar criticism City have been subjected to, with concerns relating to sports washing and Saudi’s poor human rights record. Newcastle’s aim will likely be to recreate the success of City in the years to come, with Guardiola able to see the path they are planning to follow.
"I think the intention is like this,” he said. “Without Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Mansour, these incredible facilities, the CEO to get resources and sponsors, we are where we are. I didn't speak with the Newcastle owners but I think it's what they're going to try and do, if they do it or not I don't know, nobody knows."
