Mikel Arteta left more questions than answers as he batted away questions about Manchester City during his press conference, avoiding controversy by calling the case an “ongoing process.”
City have been found guilty of breaching the Premier League’s spending rules from 2009 to 2018, a period covering two of the three-and-a-half years Arteta spent at the Etihad as Pep Guardiola’s assistant. As manager of City’s biggest rivals, Arteta was always expected to face questions about the case.
Arteta’s response
In fairness, Arteta gave some answers but largely avoided questions, saying the process is ongoing. However, with City found guilty and now appealing, the argument is that he could have offered an opinion.
Arteta ventured that the Premier League is still the best in the world, but many fans may wonder if that is still true. Other managers, including Michael Carrick, Oliver Glasner, and Regis Le Bris, have been more vocal with questions and criticisms.
Managers speak out
Carrick said football and sport are about the glory in the moment. “In football, the strive to win, the emotion and the feeling about winning, a lot of it is in the moment. You can't take that back. It's the moment you strive for. That's essentially what we're all in it for. That's the feeling we all crave.”
Glasner and Le Bris were strong on the appeal needing to be concluded within the season, otherwise the uncertainty will linger. Some managers would not take questions, so Arteta deserves credit for answering any, but dodging the issue is not enough.
Reputation at stake
The case will damage the reputation and integrity of the Premier League. The biggest danger is if City invoke a siege mentality, grow stronger, and win a title in a season in which they have been found guilty of widespread charges. The punishment could be dished out while City are still going through the courts.
Strong voices are needed, and hiding behind the “process” will not dampen the anger and frustration from fans wondering whether they can believe what they are seeing. Managers have a responsibility to understand fans in this case, making it deeply frustrating when they duck the issue.
