Pep Guardiola has caused a stir with his latest comments on the serious allegations Manchester City are up against from the Premier League. Why he does he keep getting it so wrong?
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Speaking in a press conference earlier this week, the ex-Barcelona manager called for the authorities to come to a quick decision on the accusations levelled against City. These are interesting remarks because, ironically, among the charges, the champions stand accused of withholding information from investigators. Essentially, Guardiola is calling for the Premier League to do something it has been trying to do since 2018. In fairness to him, though, what can he actually say that will appease the millions of non-City supporters watching around the world waiting for an explanation? Guardiola isn't going to denounce the club any time soon and he shouldn't be expected to either, not yet at least.
Since his first senior job in management at Barca, it has been clear to most that the Spaniard is beyond special. There is a level of understanding he has of the sport that other managers don't, even the successful and high-profile ones! Guardiola is the standard, but right now he is also the face of a club that is alleged to have falsified their financial accounts, a club that was handed a two-year ban from the UEFA Champions League in 2020. The sanction was later overturned due to a statute of limitations, meaning certain allegations couldn't be investigated because they'd become legally outdated and not because they were untrue. As part of that case, which was brought forward by UEFA, City were slapped with a fine of €10 million (R207 million), something that is important to remember when reviewing Guardiola's reaction to the latest accusations. In response to the 115 charges that came from the Premier League, he said he has been told that everything has been above board, and used the UEFA case to strengthen his stance, stating City were proved to be "completely innocent" three years prior. This was the first time, since the newest allegations, we saw Guardiola totally contradict reality.
But perhaps there should be sympathy for him. He doesn't run the club's accounts, nor does he sit in meetings to close deals with prospective sponsors. Guardiola is in charge of what happens on the training ground and on the pitch, so it may be understandable that he is genuinely concerned that his reputation and legacy in England could be tarnished by things out of his control. Don't think for a second that rival supporters won't call his achievements at City illegitimate should the Citizens be found guilty in court. In fact, when the accusations by the Premier League first came to light, it was reported that the club could be stripped of some titles won during the alleged period, 2009 and 2018, for which they are being investigated.
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Guardiola, though, is unlikely to get his wish. It is thought that this case could drag on for months or potentially even years. That will be frustrating for rival supporters, but perhaps even more annoying for the Spanish tactician, whose out-of-touch responses to the accusations could be interpreted in a few ways. Maybe Guardiola truly does believe what he has been told by those in the boardroom; maybe, deep down, he understands the seriousness of the situation and doesn't want to have to wait for the hammer to be brought down on him and the incredible success he has achieved over the past six years.
Opinion by @KurtLaduma
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