With the Premier League set to resume, managers are beginning to address the news that Manchester City were found guilty on all charges relating to financial misconduct between 2009 and 2018. The verdict, revealed last week, covers a period in which City dominated domestic football, including several title-winning campaigns under Pep Guardiola.
City's appeal and potential sanctions
City maintain their innocence and have appealed the decision. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the club could face severe sanctions. Pundits, ex-professionals, and experts have weighed in over the past week, and now league managers are starting to speak publicly.
What managers have said so far
Frank Lampard (Coventry) said: "What can you say when an appeal is going on? I'm not inside the story. They are a huge football club now, a huge squad of quality players, so we will see. I'm outside the loop. It's not my role to talk about a punishment or how much."
Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle) commented: "It is not in my job description to judge on that. The authorities are taking care of it, and there is a clear process now which will be followed and speaking on behalf of the whole club, it is the right approach to focus on what we can do better and what we can influence on the pitch."
Daniel Farke (Leeds) stated: "It makes no sense if right now everyone wants to have an opinion about this topic. There are more qualified people to talk about this. It's nothing to do with me. I was not involved in the title race during those years. This is not my topic. Football is my topic."
Marco Rose (Bournemouth) added: "I trust in the guys who are involved in these kinds of things and situations and then we will see what happens. I'm a football coach, not a politician, and I love to be a football coach, and it should stay like this."
Regis Le Bris (Sunderland) was not asked about the charges.
Managers yet to speak
Still to hold their pre-match press conferences are Enzo Maresca (Man City), Mikel Arteta (Arsenal), Fabian Hurzeler (Brighton), Keith Andrews (Brentford), Andoni Iraola (Liverpool), David Moyes (Everton), Sergej Jakirović (Hull City), Xabi Alonso (Chelsea), Gary O'Neil (Ipswich), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Oliver Glasner (Nottingham Forest), Pierre Sage (Crystal Palace), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), Alvaro Arbeloa (Fulham), and Roberto De Zerbi (Tottenham).
