Pep Guardiola has insisted he is "fully convinced" that Manchester City are "innocent" following the numerous financial charges imposed on the club by the Premier League.
The Spaniard has faced the media for the first time since the Citizens were charged by the Premier League on Monday with breaching over 100 financial rules following a four-year investigation.
Alleged breaches are said to have been committed between 2008-09 and 2017-18 and relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration within the relevant contracts, UEFA regulations, profitability and sustainability and co-operation with Premier League investigations.
Man City released a statement just a few hours after the announcement was made, expressing their 'surprise' at the Premier League's allegations considering their "irrefutable evidence" in support of their position.
The reigning Premier League champions could face unprecedented sanctions such as transfer bans, points deductions or expulsion from the top flight should they be found guilty by an independent commission.
In February 2020, Man City were fined £25m and handed a two-year ban from the Champions League by UEFA for "serious breaches" of club licensing and financial fair play regulations between 2012 and 2016.
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However, the ruling was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and their fine was reduced to £9m as 'most of the alleged breaches were either not established or time-barred.'
Man City have since continued to deny the allegations and Guardiola pulled no punches when responding to questions at a press conference on Friday, expressing his confidence that the club will beat the Premier League's charges.
"My first thought is that we have already been condemned, what happened is the same that happened with UEFA," Guardiola told reporters. "We had already accusations and now we are charged. The club proved they were innocent (from UEFA charges). You know what side I am."
Man City have won 17 trophies since the 2008 takeover by Sheikh Mansour and City Football Group, but Guardiola believes that the Premier League charges have tainted and 'damaged' the club's achievements.
"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," the Spaniard added. "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?"
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Guardiola - who has committed his future to the club amid the charges - continued: "The club they speak with all of us, but I didn't speak [about it to the players]. We did training as normal to try to beat Aston Villa. 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.
"After the courts can dictate what happened. At the end it is nice. I am fully convinced we will be innocent.
"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."
Amidst the off-field conversations, Guardiola insists that his players are "focused" on Sunday's Premier League clash against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium, adding: "The players are focused with their talent and their effort. We will see what happens after the sentencing. I don't want to anticipate what is going to happen.
"We want it to be settled as quickly as possible but the process is the process. We will love to see tomorrow but that is not going to happen.
"It happened in UEFA and that was for one or two years. Now it has happened everyone is going to talk about it every single day. We just have to focus on the pitch. There is a long process and we know what is going to happen."
Man City, who lost 1-0 away at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, currently sit second in the Premier League table, five points behind leaders Arsenal who have a game in hand.
Oliver Thomas
