11 February 2023 , 22:30
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Pep Guardiola has mocked the Premier League for failing to charge Manchester City for the Steven Gerrard slip that cost Liverpool the title.
The City boss believes that the 115 allegations of financial misconduct levelled against the reigning champions during the week are being driven by clubs who are jealous of their success. Guardiola feels Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham are envious of a club that has won six titles in a decade - but insists that some of the Premier League’s greatest moments will always belong to City.
And in a barbed dig at the Merseyside club, who have finished second three times to the Blues, he referenced the Gerrard slip against Chelsea in 2014 that famously helped Manuel Pellegrini’s City side finish top of the table. Guardiola said: “Some moments belong to us - they absolutely belong to us regardless of the sentence.
“The goal from Aguero, when Balotelli slipped? I don’t know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield. Was that our fault? I have respect for Steven Gerrard - but that moment belongs to us.
“The moments that we lived these years together, the Premier League will decide…but I know what we won and the way we won it. I know the effort we put in. If something happened in 2009 or 2010 it is not going to change one second.”
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Guardiola understands that envy is a motivating factor in football. But he feels that some of the clubs who City have put in the shade are more interested in money than glory.
Guardiola added: “That (jealousy) is part of the sport. When you’re a winning team and people want to beat you, it’s nice. But some teams want to be in Champions League positions for the big stadiums they have built.
“But we have won. If they doubt us, that’s okay. They have their suspicions? That’s okay. But there are lawyers, so wait. They (the Premier League) did not wait, not one second.
“Our reputation has already been damaged. In the case with UEFA, we were in the same position and did it change anything? Absolutely not.”