Guardiola is the next to take aim at The Super League.
The latest manager in the Super League firing line - sent out with "very few info" - was Pep Guardiola.
The Spaniard may have been briefed by those further up the Manchester City ladder, but he came out swinging for the fences. Very keen to answering any and all questions - not many were about the upcoming game against Aston Villa - the only shame was when the City press officer called a halt after only 20 minutes.
Following comments from Jurgen Klopp, James Milner and Patrick Bamford, on Monday, football fans were waiting to see how the next manager tied to one of the breakaway 'Big Six' clubs would respond in their first press conference following the news.
In Guardiola's press conference ahead of City's Wednesday evening match against Villa, the Spanish coach was inevitably asked about the elephant in the room and he didn't disappoint:
https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1384487550585278466?s=20
As you can see, like any other true footballing person, Pep had the common sense to point out that the Super League fundamentally roots out competition: the whole purpose of football and sport, in general.
He doesn't touch upon the fans, specifically, because he doesn't need to. It's clear that all of the managers implicated in this decision by their employers were not privy to discussions and although they are having to walk a fine line to keep their jobs intact, they aren't giving the tournament their seal of approval.
https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1384486841332617222?s=20
On the flipside, Guardiola didn't have too many good things to say about UEFA either - a relationship clearly soured since the
FFP scandal and by no means the good guy along the long road that has led to this moment:
https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/1384488399021637636?s=20
Nevertheless, he went on to describe the Super League plans as nothing more than "an embryo that is still not yet breathing' and reiterated that all he and his players can do right now is focus on the next game.
However, he did get across a good bit of subliminal messaging by stating: "We are going to play the UCL next week and try to reach the final next season, we are going to play in Europe because we
deserve it."
Well in, Pep.
