Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho has denied Pep Guardiola’s assertion that he wants Manchester City to be relegated.
Guardiola said that the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager wanted the Premier League champions to be punished but Mourinho insists he holds no ill-will towards the City head coach, stating he only wants “justice” to be done:
“Pep and I worked together for three years, we know we love each other. It’s not true that I want City to be relegated. What is true is I want justice. Small teams can sometimes be penalised by FFP (Financial Fair Play) when they exceed limits by 5 to 10 euros.”
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“I also suffered due to limits at Roma. I don’t think this is fair. We love each other, he knows it. Words are one thing, feelings are another. All I want is justice, but we have no ill feelings towards each other.”
The Independent Commission hearings have ended
City have been charged with 130 breaches of Premier League rules. All relate to financial regularities between the years 2008 and 2023.
An Independent Commission was set up to hear the case, but the court hearings have now concluded. There were initial hopes that a decision could be made before Christmas but the most recent reporting suggests an outcome is now expected in early Spring (potentially March).
What are the punishments that City could face?
The Cityzens could be fined, have points deducted or even be expelled from the Premier League if found guilty. However, it must be emphasised that any expulsion/relegation would have to be ratified by the other 19 top-flight teams.
While the Commission can recommend punishments, it will be the league’s responsibility to enforce them. City fans are now waiting nervously to hear the outcome of the case.
Find out who is in Manchester City’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here