The Telegraph have revealed that those at Tottenham Hotspur have been left surprised that Pep Guardiola namechecked Daniel Levy while accusing the Premier League of having an agenda against Manchester City.
The Premier League have charged City with breaking the competition’s financial rules on over 100 occasions across a nine-year period, which includes charges related to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations and many other offences (Guardian).
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It emerged a couple of days ago that Spurs and the other members of the so-called ‘big six’ were pushing the hardest for action to be taken against City (Sky Sports).
In his press conference on Friday, Guardiola offered a passionate defence of his club, suggesting that the agenda against them was being driven by some of their Premier League rivals.
When asked if the charges had been driven by the club’s rivals, the City boss responded (via The Athletic): “Yeah of course – it is the Premier League. I don’t know why. You have to go to all the CEOs, the Daniel Levys, all these kinds of people and ask them.
“These 19 Premier League [clubs] have set a precedent. What they have done to us, be careful with that. Be careful in the future. Many clubs can make suggestions and there are a lot of clubs that can be accused like we have been accused.”
The Telegraph explain that those at Spurs are bemused as to why Levy was the only chairman or chief executive to be mentioned by name.
The report states that Spurs declined to make a comment about the City manager’s statement but there is confusion as to why Levy was namechecked, given that the Tottenham chairman has not spoken publicly about the Premier League’s charges against the reigning Champions.
Spurs Web Opinion
Guardiola’s arrogant tone in the press conference shows that he has been informed by City that they are quite confident that they can escape without any severe punishment.
At the least, I suspect that their lawyers would be able to draw this out for several years. That would certainly not mean that City are innocent of any wrongdoing.
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