Pep Guardiola Speaks On Man City's Innocence After Being Hit With Financial Charges

Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City will be deemed innocent after the Premier League charged the reigning champions with more than 100 breaches of financial rules.

He also notes that City have already been "condemned" and "sentenced" since the bombshell news broke out.

The Premier League had announced on Monday that City breached league rules requiring provision "in utmost good faith" of "accurate financial information that gives a true and fair view of the club's financial position."

It referred the alleged breaches to an independent commission to determine whether City are innocent or not, following a four-year investigation. 

City say the alleged breaches span a period from the 2009-10 season to the 2017-18 campaign left them "surprised" but "welcome a review of this matter."

Speaking to the media for the first time since the charges were announced, Guardiola began by saying, "My first thought is that we have already been condemned."

"We had already accusations and now we are charged.

"The club proved they were innocent (from Uefa charges)."

The Spaniard went further to declare that he is fully convinced that the pendulum of justice will swing in City's favour having heard from the club management on the issue.

"The club they speak with all of us, but I didn't speak [about it to the players]," he said.

"All the big moments we have had still belong to us - for our fans, our people.

"No one can pull that away, it is impossible.

"The courts will dictate what will happen but I am fully convinced we will be innocent in the end.

"But what will happen next? Will it stop now?

"It is not because of Uefa. Since Abu Dhabi took over the club - since day one it was like that."

When asked whether City's achievements have been tainted by the Premier League charges, he added: "We are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.

"We didn't have this opportunity, we are already sentenced.

"What is going to happen I don't know. Personally, I am happy we are here as like UEFA we have the chance to defend (ourselves).

"We have a good lawyer, not that Uefa had bad lawyers.

"And I think the Premier League, supported by 19 teams, are going to take good lawyers too to defend their position.

"I would have loved to wait and see to find out what happens but just in case we are not innocent we will accept what the judge and the Premier League decides.

"But if the same situation with Uefa happens and we are innocent, what happens to restore or pay back our damage?"