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Pep Guardiola responds to FFP allegations made against Manchester City

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Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola attends a press conference at City Football Academy in Manchester, north west England on November 6, 2018 on the eve of their UEFA Champions League Group F football match against Shakhtar Donetsk. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)OLI SCARFF/AFP/Getty Images — The Spaniard was unhappy with suggestions City have cheated their way to the top (Picture: AFP)

Pep Guardiola has passionately defended Manchester Citys conduct amid claims the Premier League champions bent Financial Fair Play rules to get around spending regulations.

German magazine Der Spiegel have published a series of articles claiming that City struck a secret deal with UEFA to avoid a potential Champions League ban for breaching FFP rules, while also disguising how much they were really spending.

The club released a statement defending their reputation, and Guardiola insists the club have acted by the book.

A general view of the outside of Etihad Stadium before the match begins — Der Spiegel claim City channeled millions through Abu Dhabi-based sponors (Picture: Getty)

Well I think about that issue the club issued a statement last Friday about what happened, about stolen emails, Guardiola told reporters ahead of Citys Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donestk.

I trust a lot with the club, what they have done and of course we want to follow the rules, whether UEFA or FIFA or the Premier League. They do what they have to do.

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Believe me, Im completely honest, I dont know what happened, because I am a manager. I am focused on what happened on the pitch, in the locker room.

But about the business, about how they handle this kind of situation, I am completely out of that. I am part of the club, I am supporter of the club, and we want to do what we have to do in terms of the rules.

Manchester City Training, Abu Dhabi, H.H Sheikh Mansour speaks with Chairman of Manchester City Football Club Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Pep Guardiola and Willy Caballero during their mid season training camp in Abu Dhabi (Photo by Victoria Haydn/Manchester City FC via Getty Images) — Guardiola speaks with Sheikh Mansour at a training camp in Abu Dhabi (Picture: Getty)

Asked if the allegations undermined Citys achievements, Guardiola continued: I think thats been said for the last decade, so the people is saying about the club for the last decade just win because we have money.

That is the issue always here, because to pass to stay in one level and achieve another level you need a lot of time, and of course money. When you invest more, this gap, the time reduces. And thats normal.

Soccer Football - Champions League - Manchester City Press Conference - The City Football Academy, Manchester, Britain - November 6, 2018 Manchester City's Kyle Walker and manager Pep Guardiola during a press conference Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith — Guardiola was speaking to the media alongside Kyle Walker (Picture: Reuters)

When I was in Catalunya, and after in Germany, always I hear, I listen to the boys, saying Manchester City has just money, just money. And we have to live with that.

I am inside now, for the last three years. And of course, like many, many clubs around the world there they have a lot of money, but they are also an incredible club. Incredible people working here, and how professional they are in all the departments. Its an incredibly professional club, they try to do the good things in the right why. Thats all I can say.

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