Pep Guardiola hits back at Premier League rivals who "want them relegated"
Pep Guardiola has called out the Premier League sides - many of whom he believes want to see Manchester City relegated as they continue to battle the charges levelled at them
by Andy Dunn, Samuel Meade · The MirrorPep Guardiola reckons the vast majority of Manchester City’s Premier League rivals want the champions RELEGATED.
But the Etihad boss is standing defiant as his club waits for the verdict on the 115 charges of breaching financial regulations. A day after signing a new two-year deal, Guardiola declared: “I read something about the situation and how you need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it - I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff.”
City’s legal team suffered a blow on Friday when Premier League clubs voted 16-4 in favour of amendments to rules on associated partner transactions (APT) at a meeting in London on Friday.
Certain aspects of the APT regulations had been successfully challenged by City but the Premier League has now altered the rules to its satisfaction.
But when asked whether he takes pride in standing up for his club during the uncertain off-the-field times, Guardiola said: “I prefer not to be in that position but once it’s there, I love it. (It’s) because you believe in your club, and the people there. I believe what they say to me and the reasons why.”
And Guardiola, whose team will face Spurs at the Etihad this evening on the back of four consecutive defeats in all competitions, reaffirmed his commitment to City, regardless of any Premier League punishment.
He said: “What happens if we are relegated? I will be here. I feel it now.”
Guardiola said 12 months ago he would manage them in League One if that became their reality. He has just penned a new deal to extend for a further year and the incredibly possibility of them dropping down the football league will have been considered before he chose to remain - although he denied that was the case.
His immediate remit is on ending a four-game losing streak - the type of which has been almost unprecedented during his time at the club. It has seen them slip five points behind Liverpool in the Premier League and go out of the Carabao Cup.
Despite that contract negotiations were smooth as he and the City hierarchy came to an agreement within hours and Guardiola - who recently made history by winning a fourth straight title - admits he deserves to have plenty of credit in the back.
"In just two hours, we did it," he said on the contract talks. "Maybe I am arrogant, but I think we deserve to continue for what we have done in the last years."
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