Critics Want To See Manchester City Wiped From Face Of The Earth – Says Pep Guardiola

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, says he feels critics of the Premier League champions want the club wiped “from the face of the Earth” over their alleged breaches of financial rules.

Since Guardiola arrived in 2016, City has dominated English football and now faces a substantial points deduction or potentially expulsion from the league if found guilty of any or all of the 115 charges concerning financial regulations.

A long-awaited hearing into charges brought by the Premier League in February 2023 finally began at the start of the week.

Guardiola has previously stated that some of the club’s rivals hope to see them found guilty, and he firmly believes that they would expect the punishment to be harsh.

He brought up the matter unprompted ahead of Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium while talking about the tendency of people to overly criticize isolated bad performances.

“During a season, you can say, ‘Oh, it was a bad season’,” said Guardiola.

“But for performances, some people say, ‘Oh, it’s a disgrace, it is a disaster, it’s unacceptable’. No, during 90 minutes it’s one bad afternoon when they were better.

“But I would say I’m sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not to be relegated, to disappear off the face of the Earth, the world – that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That’s why we win a lot.”

City faces 80 breaches of financial rules between 2009 and 2018, plus a further 35 of failing to cooperate with a Premier League investigation.

The club is accused of not providing accurate financial information, including details regarding revenue from sponsors and the salaries of managers and players.

However, City have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.