Manchester City’s recent success in football has often been clouded by the ongoing 115 charges regarding their financial irregularities. The charges are currently under investigation with many criticising the timeframe behind the final decision.
Pep Guardiola’s men made history earlier this month by becoming the first team to win a fourth straight Premier League title. After holding off an intense challenge from Arsenal, City were crowned champions of England for a sixth time in seven years in an era of dominance.
For many, the achievements are marked with an asterisk with any potential punishment over their alleged 115 financial charges yet to be decided, although the club strongly deny any wrongdoing. However, Guardiola’s work at the Etihad Stadium shouldn’t be overlooked, according to Jurgen Klopp.
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Prior to his final game in charge of Liverpool, the German insisted that Guardiola’s achievement in Manchester shouldn’t be impacted by the outcome of the charges. “Everybody knows about the 115 charges, but I have no clue what that means. I only know the number,” he said the media, via The Express.
“No matter what has transpired at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola is the best manager in the world – and that is truly significant. If you put any other manager in that club, they don’t win the league four times in a row. That’s down to him and his team.
“Does that mean they can do whatever they want? No. But I don’t know what they did – if they did anything – and I’m not here to say they have. We will see. Of course, I would like to know (if City are guilty) one day. Everyone wants to know. But I will be somewhere else.
“The quality of Pep makes the difference so I don’t worry about these things. We will see. It’s not my problem and I am fine with what we have and what we’ve achieved.”
Arsenal sporting director, Edu Gaspar, has now seconded Klopp’s that sentiment. Speaking to Brazilian outlet Estadao, he said: “There are things that unfortunately I cannot say what I feel. But all the credit in the world to Pep for the training and work he’s been doing since he started his career.
“I even joke with my son that I want to see if he’s really good at rugby. It’s a joke I make because he’s already won everything in football.”