Pep Guardiola: I will stay at Man City if we're relegated to League One
- Everton were handed a 10-point deduction after breaching Premier League's financial rules
- Man City remain under investigation after being charged with 115 infractions
- Guardiola insists he would remain with City even if they were relegated to League One
By Tom Gott
Pep Guardiola says he's more likely to stay at Manchester City "if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League" and that the Premier League's investigation into alleged financial breaches cannot be compared with the process that led to a 10-point deduction for Everton.
The Toffees were found to have breached the league's profit and sustainability rules during the 2021/22 season and were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, reigniting the debate about the ongoing investigation into City's 115 alleged infractions.
Many have argued that City, who have strongly denied the charges against them, could be forcibly relegated from the Premier League due to the extent of the allegations against them, considering Everton were docked 10 points for one rule-break.
Guardiola, however, refused to be drawn on comparisons between the two cases and even insisted he'd be more committed to City than ever if the club was forced down the divisions.
"You are questioning like we have been punished. And in the moment we are innocent until guilt is proved," the Spaniard told his weekly press conference. ""I know the people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see it and after the sentence has been done we will come here and explain it. But absolutely I will not consider my future [if] it depends being here or being in League One. Absolutely.
"There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League. Why should I not believe, what’s changed?
"It’s not the case because the judge and the court and the Premier League lawyers and our lawyers at the end make both defence in front of the judge and after he will decide. I didn’t change for one second my opinion about it – take time, wait and see what they decide and after we accept the resolution.
"I won’t say a word about Everton because I don’t know the reality of what really happened. Maybe you know but asked our team and they are two completely different cases. I know when people are saying, 'Okay, City - why don’t they go to the Conference?' Wait. Wait. And after what’s going to happen is going to happen."
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was also keen to avoid too much discussion about his cross-town rivals, telling his own press conference: "I'm absolutely not in the subject to be honest. Did I know that there was a...? No, I don't think I knew it.
"I just heard about it, the 10 points. There was a lot of discussion. I heard they will appeal it. That's it. Everybody would do that probably but that's all I can say about it."
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