MX23RW : Monday, August 10 07:20:26| >> :120:28935:28935:

Pep Guardiola calls for end to talk surrounding European suspension

Pep Guardiola calls for end to talk surrounding European suspension
© Reuters
City successfully overturned a two-year European ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month.

Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City will take no extra Champions League motivation from feeling wronged over the Financial Fair Play controversy.

City successfully overturned a two-year European ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sport earlier this month after vigorously defending themselves against allegations of financial misconduct.

European governing body UEFA had imposed the suspension after an investigation, while various other leading football figures around the continent, either connected to rival clubs or foreign competitions, had apparently backed the punishment.

City banned from Europe for two years by UEFA but successfully appealed against the sanction
City were banned from Europe for two years by UEFA but successfully appealed against the sanction (Martin Rickett/PA)

Now that City have won their appeal there could be an obvious temptation to try and prove a point over the remainder of this season as they bid to win the Champions League for the first time.

Yet manager Guardiola insists that is not a factor as he prepares for the delayed second leg of City's last-16 tie against Real Madrid on August 7.

Guardiola said: "This issue is over. UEFA accused us, (saying) that it was not fair what we had done in the process.

"After, independent judges said: 'No, they (City) were right.'

"It's a page or chapter for me that is over, that is closed. We are happy because we showed to the world we are clean.

"We followed completely the rules about Financial Fair Play. But even that we know what happened, the people are talking about this. The rumours will always be there.

"But it is not more satisfaction or less satisfaction for winning. Now we have in front an important game for us.

"With a great joy, we are going to prepare and try to be there – and go to Lisbon, like Madrid always expect to be there too."

City enjoyed a famous victory in Madrid
City enjoyed a famous victory in Madrid (Nick Potts/PA)

City will take a 2-1 lead into the second leg against Madrid after victory at the Bernabeu in February.

It gives them a strong chance of progressing in a competition in which they have continually slipped up unexpectedly.

Under Guardiola, City have gone out to Monaco, Liverpool and Tottenham in the knockout stages despite being favourites to go through.

Again, Guardiola – whose side must first wrap up their Premier League campaign at home to Norwich on Sunday – insists atoning for past mistakes is not part of the motivation.

Guardiola insists playing well and the desire to go through should be motivation enough
Guardiola insists playing well and the desire to go through should be motivation enough (Matthew Childs/NMC Pool)

He said: "The drive to go through must be to play a good game. What I want is to do a good game.

"It is absolutely a final for us, for Madrid it is a final. In the final we must avoid making mistakes and play football like we are (capable of).

"It is not good what happened in the past but that is not going to make you play better. What happened in the past is the past.

"These kind of games, special games, it is the desire of every single player to try to win."

ID:407945:

Click here for more stories about Pep Guardiola

Click here for more stories about Manchester City

Share this article now:
Did you know...?
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola pictured on July 21, 2020
Read Next:
Pep Guardiola: 'Norwich clash a trial for Real Madrid meeting'
>
Latest Sports Video
Sports Mole Logo
Enter your email address to subscribe to Sports Mole's free daily transfer newsletter! Sent twice a day during the transfer window.
Read more about Pep Guardiola Football

rhs 2.0
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLiverpool38323385335299
2Manchester CityMan City382639102356781
3Manchester UnitedMan Utd391813867373067
4Chelsea392061370571366
5Leicester CityLeicester381881267412662
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs3816111161471459
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves381514951401159
8Arsenal381414105648856
9Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd381412123939054
10Burnley38159144350-754
11Everton401411154858-1053
12Southampton38157165160-952
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle381111163858-2044
14Crystal Palace381110173150-1943
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton38914153954-1541
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham38109194962-1339
17Aston Villa3898214167-2635
RBournemouth3897224065-2534
RWatford38810203664-2834
RNorwich CityNorwich3856272675-4921

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!