Jamie Carragher has taken a swipe at Pep Guardiola over Man City’s 115 Premier League rule-breaking accusations, telling him, “I’d definitely have a title if Liverpool were nation-state owned.”
On Tuesday, Guardiola delivered an astounding six-and-a-half-minute speech in which he defended his Manchester City players, claimed they would make history this season, and slammed charges of complacency.
Guardiola slammed Sky Sports pundits Jamie Carragher, Micah Richards, and Gary Neville for suggesting that they have become complacent following last year’s Treble.
“Gary Neville knows how difficult it is; otherwise, he would’ve won four Premier Leagues in the best period of Manchester United,’ Guardiola said.
“But he didn’t do it. Maybe they accuse us of complacency because they felt complacency at United. Maybe they felt it. This team, so far, has no chance.
“Jamie Carragher didn’t win one (title). Micah Richards didn’t win four Premier Leagues in a row. Never, ever. It’s never happened.
“I don’t have anything to say about the pundits, honestly. It’s not about that (complacency). Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t think it’s about complacency.’
Carragher has responded by saying he would have done the same if his club had been in the same situation as City.
He tweeted: “I think I’d have probably won one if Liverpool were owned by a nation-state and pushed the rules so far that the PL charged us 115 times!
“I was actually praising Pep’s team after the game on Sunday, he added with a laughing face emoji.”
Following an inquiry that began in 2018, the Premier League charged City in February with 115 suspected financial standards violations.
They have agreed to meet in the autumn of 2024 in front of an impartial panel in what will be possibly the largest hearing in the competition’s history.
Those familiar with the situation feel that a resolution may not be reached until the end of next season, when city manager Pep Guardiola’s current contract is set to expire.
It is known that what has been a highly confidential process is now at the stage of taking statements from witnesses, which will likely continue until next spring.
If the trial is completed on time, the verdict is expected in the summer of 2025.
Delays, on the other hand, may cause the procedures to be pushed back even more. And, if either party finds the final result distasteful, it is difficult to imagine a world in which they would not appeal. A scenario like this would take a large amount of time.
If necessary, City may pursue additional options, although they would be unable to apply to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, where they successfully overcame their UEFA-imposed Champions League ban.
