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Rob dawsonCorrespondent
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola launched a scorching attack on numerous targets after his club successfully lifted its Champions League ban, with UEFA, its Premier League rivals and League boss Javier Thebes, all in their sights.
On Monday, the Court of Arbitration for Sport authorized the City to violate the rules of financial fair play (FFP) and lifted its two-year ban on European football. A fine of € 30 million was also reduced to € 10 million.
– Lifted the city ban: Who qualifies for Europe?
Speaking on Tuesday for the first time since the decision was made, Guardiola demanded an apology after a forceful legal battle that threatened to tear apart the club’s reputation if found guilty.
“We should apologize,” Guardiola said during what became a passionate defense for his club.
“We have the right to defend ourselves when we believe that what we have done is correct. Three [CAS] the judges said this.
“It was a good day for football, as we played by the same rules as all clubs in Europe. If we had broken the rules, we would be banned.”
“People [who] we say we cheated we lied and the presumption of innocence was not there. Of course we are now incredibly happy because we can stand up for what we have done on the field. “
Guardiola also angered the city’s Premier League rivals and referenced a letter sent to CAS and signed by eight clubs – Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, Leicester, Wolves and Burnley – in March in an attempt for avoidance the punishment was deferred while the appeal was ongoing.
However, in a barely veiled attack on his rivals, Guardiola called the tactic a “whisper.”
“I know this from the elite clubs – Liverpool, United, Arsenal – they are not comfortable [with us] to be here, “said Guardiola.
“But we deserve to be here and we don’t have to ask permission to be there. When we lose, I shake their hands and congratulate them, all the time that we have. The boys accept it, we wanted to be here and we tried on the court. Yes you disagree, knock on the door and talk to our president and our CEO, don’t whisper.
“We invested a lot of money, but we did it in the right things. We are not banned, we follow the rules for FFP as they choose. If not, we would be banned.”
Tottenham manager José Mourinho called the decision to revoke the City’s ban “a disgrace.”
Elsewhere, La Liga president Tebas called CAS “non-standard.”
“He is someone else,” Guardiola continued. “This guy must be very jealous of the Premier League and English football. He is an amazing legal expert, next time we will ask them which court should try us.”
“There has to be concern and concern about La Liga focusing on them. These kinds of people when it is good for them is perfect, but if it is against them it is a problem for others. We will be in the Champions League on next season, Mr. Thebes. What we did, we did it correctly. “
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