Pochettino Calls Manchester City’s Success a ‘Period of Deception’

Mauricio Pochettino has described Manchester City’s recent success as a “period of deception” following reports that the club violated financial rules set by the Premier League. An independent commission reportedly found City guilty of most of the 115 charges against them, although the Premier League has not yet made an official announcement.

City has denied the allegations, and their chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, expressed confidence in proving the club’s innocence. Since their takeover by Abu Dhabi owners in 2008, City has won numerous trophies, including the Premier League and the Champions League.

Pochettino, who has managed Chelsea, Tottenham, and Southampton in the Premier League, believes the findings could harm both Manchester City and the league itself. He stated, “Whatever punishment, it’s impossible to turn back time. It’s done a lot of damage. Many clubs followed the rules and some didn’t. It is a huge sadness.”

The charges against City span from the 2009-10 season to the 2017-18 season. The club is also accused of not cooperating with Premier League investigations between late 2018 and early 2023. Possible penalties for City could include losing points, being expelled from the league, or facing a hefty fine.

There have been suggestions that City should be stripped of their Premier League titles since 2008. Pochettino has previously called for Chelsea to lose their 2016-17 title due to past rule breaches, which he believes should be awarded to his Tottenham team, who finished second that season.

However, he expressed uncertainty about what punishment would be appropriate for City, saying, “It’s really hard. 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.” He noted the strict financial controls imposed on some clubs compared to others, calling the situation “very strange.”