Manchester City know what is at stake during their Premier League hearing | OneFootball

Manchester City know what is at stake during their hearing in front of an independent panel over 115 alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules. Pep Guardiola made that known during the embargoed section of his pre-game press conference ahead of today’s clash with Arsenal. The Manchester City manager has put out there what the club’s rivals are hoping for when a verdict is finally reached on the entire affair.

Pep Guardiola didn’t miss the opportunity to share his thoughts on the hearing and what punishment Manchester City’s rivals are hoping for. He said: “But I would say – I’m sorry, I want to defend my club, especially in these modern days when everyone is expecting us not (only) to be relegated, to be disappeared off the face of the Earth, the world – that we have better afternoons than the opponents. That’s why we win a lot.”

It is hard not to agree with what Pep Guardiola said yesterday. A look at the past week’s coverage of the hearing shows what the prevailing sentiment is. Articles discussing potential punishments for Manchester City have dominated the headlines. Punishments ranging from relegation to being expelled from all competitions have been well covered this week. The thought that Manchester City could clear their name barely gets a mention. That fact hasn’t been lost on Pep Guardiola.

The verdict in Manchester City’s hearing in front of an independent panel isn’t expected for some time. But that won’t stop the topic from being the centre of attention. Given the size and scope of the case that is only natural. But it is clear what the hopes of many are by the end of the affair. That fact hasn’t been lost on Pep Guardiola either after the opening week of the hearing.