Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano tells Pep Guardiola and backroom staff to ‘concentrate on football’ | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola and his backroom staff have been told to ‘concentrate on football’ by the club’s CEO Ferran Soriano, according to a new report.

In a week marred by the charges on Manchester City released by the Premier League early last week, Pep Guardiola and his players showed their full focus on the pitch on Sunday afternoon.

A trio of goals courtesy from Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez moved Manchester City to within just three points of the current league leaders Arsenal – whom they face in their next fixture on Wednesday night.

There had been some concerns in the lead up to Sunday’s match against Aston Villa as to whether the charges from the Premier League would affect the focus of Pep Guardiola’s players – whose futures could be in jeopardy should City be found guilty.

Such concerns could not be any further from the truth, as Manchester City put in what is being regarded by many as their best performance since the restart of club football following the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

But the impressive nature of their performance against Unai Emery’s side, and the focus from the entire squad, may be credited to one significant member of City’s hierarchy.

According to the information of the Mail’s Mike Keegan, Manchester City’s management team – including head coach Pep Guardiola – had been spoken to by a ‘bullish’ chief executive Ferran Soriano following the Premier League’s issuing of charges.

The report reveals that the club official reminded them of the fact that Manchester City have been here before – when charged by UEFA – had won, and would do so again.

In reassuring words to supporters too, the Mail state that Ferran Soriano also added that there was nothing to worry about and told the group to ‘concentrate on football’.

Manchester City will be hoping to retain their levels of performance in their next Premier League clash, as they take on Arsenal in the first meeting between the two title challengers this season.

A win on Wednesday night could move City to the top of the Premier League table, with the Gunners having a game in hand on their rivals however.

Manchester City have already been Arsenal once this season, reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win against Mikel Arteta’s men at the Etihad Stadium last month.