‘Where were the controls?’ – Pochettino on Man City charges
· Yahoo Sports
Mauricio Pochettino says the Premier League lived through “a period of deception” if Manchester City are found guilty of the financial charges against them.
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The USA head coach said it would be impossible to fully repair the damage caused, regardless of the eventual punishment handed to City, amid reports that the club have been found guilty of the majority of the charges against them.
“It’s sad,” Pochettino said. “It is a huge sadness.
“At the end of the day we get into a situation where what got celebrated wasn’t that real, what seemed good maybe wasn’t so good, what didn’t look good maybe was good but couldn’t be good because of what happened.
“At the end of the day, we went through something where sporting fairness didn’t exist.
“So, how do you repair everything that was damaged because of that, if it’s true all of the 114 rules that were broken, we’ve lived through a period of deception.”
Pochettino also questioned what punishment could realistically undo the impact of any breaches, pointing out that other clubs had operated within strict financial limits.
“Whatever punishment [they choose], it’s impossible to turn back time,” he said.
“It’s done a lot of damage, more than anything the guidelines. At the end of the day many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t.
“Maybe they thought that the punishment [wouldn’t come for a lot of years] – what are they going to do? An economic punishment? Docking points? It’s really hard.”
The former Tottenham boss also reflected on his own time in north London, when Spurs went 18 months without making a signing while funding the construction of their new stadium.
“Where were the controls?” Pochettino questioned.
“That’s what gets my attention. Where were the controls?”
“If I remember being at Southampton, then Tottenham – I remember building [the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium] and not having the economic possibility of a transfer for 18 months.
“I think we were the only team in the history of the Premier League with 18 months without [making a transfer].
“If a team like us, Tottenham, was fighting for titles with those above us and every year in the top four, getting to the semi-finals of Champions League without being able to do a transfer for 18 months, all because we needed to get used to the [Premier League financial controls]?
“They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others. Because of that, that’s why I say: it’s all very strange.”
Manchester City continue to deny any wrongdoing with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak telling supporters the club remain fully confident of proving their innocence.