Pep Guardiola has addressed the media ahead of Manchester Cityâs clash with Aston Villa this weekend.
Manchester City
Aston Villa
Understandably, events earlier this week dominated the topic of conversation.
On Premier League investigation
âMy first thought is that we have already been condemned. What has happened in these weeks after Monday is what happened with UEFA.
âThe club proved that we were completely innocent [with UEFA]. Why should I not think right now when there is not an acquisition? There is just charges or suggestions.
âYou have to understand that the 19 teams of the PL are accusing us without opportunity to defend ourselves. You know exactly on what side I am.â
On whether heâll stay
âI am not moving from this seat. I can assure you more than ever that I want to stay. More than ever. Sometimes I have doubts, seven or eight years is a long time, but now I donât want to move.
âNot because the people say âthey lie to you Pepâ. They did not lie to me. Look what happened with UEFA, we did not do anything wrong. Now is the same case. Why should I not trust my people?â
âHopefully the reason why they are going to sack me out of here is because of the results!â
On ramifications
âTime will dictate what is going to happen. But just incase we are not innocent, we will accept what the judge and the Premier League decide.
âIf what happened with UEFA we are innocent, then what happens to restore our payback, our damages.
âThere are no enemies or friends, just interested [parties]. It is the same accusations, the same as before. If we are guilty, we will go to the lower divisions like before and call on Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee!â
On trusting clubâs innocence
âBetween the word of the 19 clubs or the word of my people, Iâm sorry if I am going to rely on the word of my people.
âI am fully convinced that we will be innocent. What will happen then? Itâs been the same since Abu Dhabi took over.
âWe were not part of the establishment, they can do it but the only thing I regret is that they should let us have the chance to defend ourselves. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty but it didnât happen. Who is going to return the damage from the articles?â
On waiting time for verdict
âItâs not going to be one month, two months, three months. It will be longer, I know that.â
On talks with club hierarchy
âI would say they are more confident [than the UEFA punishment] because they have a lot of information, a lot of papers that they can show.â
On other PL clubs motivating the charges
âThey open a precedent right now. What happened to us, be careful. What happened to us, there are a lot of (other) clubs that could be accused in the future.
âWe can accept if they do not like how we behave but let us defend ourselves. There are a lot a lot of things, there are suggestions, there are no sentences.
âYou should go to the chairmans, the CEOs, Daniel Levy, and ask them âŚâ
On how team have dealt with it
âIâm delighted with the team. I know how they are training lately. Normally we didnât give up, in the previous seasons, in the toughest moments, we had the feeling that we are going to do it.â
