Guardiola Warns Bartomeu Not To Blame Man City Amid Champions League Ban
Pep Guardiola has admonished Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu not to criticize Manchester City following UEFA’s announcement on Friday that the English champions have been banned from competing in the Champions League for two seasons and fined £25m.
Few days after UEFA’s ruling, Bartomeu congratulated the European football governing body for the sanctions imposed on the Premier League champions and insists the Catalan giants are doing everything possible to comply.
In an interview with the media after Manchester City’s 2-0 victory over West Ham United on Wednesday night, Guardiola slammed Bartomeu for making such ‘sensitive’ comments.
“I don't know if they spy on me but they know me, it's not necessary to spy on me,” the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach said.
“If they're happy that we are suspended I would say to the president of Barca to give us two appeals. I ask right now that the people trust what they (City) have done.”
“Don't talk too loud, Barcelona, that's my advice, because everybody is involved in situations.”
“We're going to appeal and hopefully in the future we can play in the Champions League against Barcelona.”
"It's a sensitive issue to talk about the legal actions because I don't know it, I'm not a lawyer," he added.
"All we can do is win the games."
The Citizens will face third-placed Leicester City over the weekend before making a trip to the Spanish capital to take on Barcelona’s rival Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League round 16.
