Pep Guardiola has reiterated his claim that he will stay at Manchester City if they are punished for financial breaches – even if they are relegated to League One.
City are facing 115 separate charges relating to FFP misdemeanours with the spotlight falling on them over the past week following Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaking rules on Profitability and Sustainability.
Guardiola, speaking ahead of tomorrow lunchtime’s blockbuster meeting with Liverpool, said: “I am not going to say one word about Everton, because I don’t know the reality of what happened. They are two completely different cases.
“I know people are saying, ‘why don’t City go to the Conference,’ but let’s wait. It’s not the same. One of them [the cases] is longer, it’s more complicated.”
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Guardiola has insisted previously he would not walk away from the Etihad if the club were demoted and he stood by that claim today.
“You’re questioning me like we have been punished,” he added. “At the moment, we are innocent. But wait and see, if the guilt is proven, I know people want it, but wait and see and after we’ll come and explain. There is more chance I will stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League.”
City go into the Liverpool game at the top of the Premier League table, a point clear of their Merseyside rivals.
Guardiola is hopeful striker Erling Haaland can play against a club that have pushed City harder than anyone else over recent seasons.
“I think we are all friends,” he said of Liverpool. “Time goes forward, eight years with Liverpool and not the same team as the start. They are similar of course.
“Trent Alexander-Arnold can play inside now but the ideas are similar. Always they’ve been our best rivals.
“Top club, top team, I’m looking forward to it. Every compliment to Liverpool and Manchester City to still be here.”
Tomorrow’s game will see former Bayern Munich boss Guardiola come face-to-face once again with Jurgen Klopp, with whom he has had many battles during his time in England and Germany.
“He [Klopp] has made me better,” he said. “Him and his teams, here and Dortmund have always been big rivals, good games for both, positive approach and always attractive.
“He has made me a better manager through his teams, and of course the way they play is good with the transitions, the runs, they are a fantastic team, a top side, no doubt.”
