Pep Guardiola vowed not to walk away from Manchester City as he hit back at the Financial Fair Play allegations rocking the Premier League champions.
In a wide-ranging press conference ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Watford, the Catalan addressed a host of issues facing the club.
He insisted:
*City are innocent of all claims of financial wrong-doing.
*Players never meant to offend Liverpool with their controversial ‘Allez, Allez, Allez’ chant.
*He has no interest in taking over at Juventus.
*And City cannot afford Antoine Griezmann.
Guardiola aims to win an unprecedented domestic treble with victory at Wembley, but has been irritated by the fact City’s successful defence of their title had been overshadowed by news of a potential Champions League ban after UEFA completed their investigation into alleged breaches of FFP.
He said: “I know we won the Premier League and the last two or three days they just talk about that. We are innocent until proven.
“I’m sorry, if we did something wrong or Uefa decides that we have done something wrong, okay we’ll be banned. We will be punished or whatever they decide, but we are innocent right now.
“I spoke with the chairman, with the CEO and I know exactly what happened, I know exactly what they did and I trust a lot of them so that’s all.
“Uefa are now working with the lawyers from Man city. Man City is open to expose all the papers, all the documents.”
As well as ongoing concerns over FFP, City were also criticised after social media footage showed they players chanting about Liverpool during the flight back from Brighton last Sunday.
It was claimed the chant was offensive to to Liverpool supporter Sean Cox, who was attacked by Roma fans last season.
The lyrics include “battered in the streets” and “victims of it all.”
City denied any intent to cause offence.
Guardiola echoed that sentiment, but offered his apologies to Liverpool on Friday.
“Do you think someone can, just for one second, imagine we could offend about what this tragedy is about – about all the Liverpool people? It’s incredible.
“If someone was offended for another issue I’m sorry, I apologise, but never was it our intention.
’We celebrated for ourselves, we were happy to win the Premier League - it is difficult against an incredible contender.”
Guardiola’s own future has been the subject of speculation amid the threat of a Champions League ban, with Juventus one of the club he’s been strongly-linked with.
Confirmation on Friday that Max Allegri will leave the Italian champions at the end of the season has raised fresh talk that Guardiola could head to Turin.
But he immediately dismissed any suggestion he’ll leave the Etihad before the end of his contract, which has two years to run.
“How many times do I have to say, I’m not going to Juventus?” he said. “I am not going to move to Italy, I’m staying here two more seasons.
“If they want me, I have a contract, I am not going to move and I’m satisfied working here with this club, with these people here and I’m not going anywhere.”
Finally Guardiola ruled out a move for Griezmann, who will leave Atletico Madrid at the end of the season.
The France forward is expected to move to Barcelona – and Guardiola is adamant the Catalan giants will face no competition from City.
He added: “I say to the people of Barcelona, don’t worry guys, we are not going to buy Griezmann.
“We cannot afford it. The people at Barca don’t need to worry, we are not interested.”
