“He has a lot to do” – Pep Guardiola launches strong response to UEFA boss Aleksander Ceferin following Man City comments

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a strong response to UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin following his comments on the Etihad club this week.

In an interview from Ceferin with the Daily Telegraph earlier this week, the UEFA boss claimed that his organisation knew they “were right” to issue the charges they did on Manchester City back in 2019, despite the verdict being overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

“We know we were right,” Ceferin said of the reigning Premier League champions. “We wouldn’t decide if we didn’t think we were right. As a trial lawyer for 25 years, I know that, sometimes, you win a case that you are sure you will lose.

He continued, “And sometimes you lose a case when you’re sure. You have to respect the decision of the court. I don’t want to speak about the case in England. But I trust that the decision of our independent body was correct.”

Now, in a bold response to the UEFA boss on Thursday afternoon, Pep Guardiola has said that not only does Aleksander Ceferin have to “wait” before commenting on Manchester City, but that he also “has a lot to do” within his own organisation before speaking out on others.

“As a lawyer as he is, the president of UEFA should wait,” Guardiola said while speaking ahead of Manchester City’s FA Cup fourth round showdown with Tottenham in London on Friday night.

Pep Guardiola continued, “He has to respect it and wait. He has a lot to do at UEFA. Lawyers should respect the procedure. We have the right to defend ourselves.”

Aleksander Ceferin was directly referring to a question from The Telegraph asking whether Manchester City being found guilty of their 115 Premier League charges by an independent commission in future would vindicate UEFA’s own investigations and outcomes.

Responding to the Premier League’s charges in February 2023, Manchester City stated that they were “surprised” by the issuing of alleged breaches, and that they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their position.

A statement from the club read at the time, “Manchester City is surprised by the issuing of these alleged breaches of the Premier League Rules, particularly given the extensive engagement and vast amount of detailed materials that the EPL has been provided with.

“The club welcomes the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support of its position. As such we look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”