‘They are exceptional professionals’: Pep Guardiola insists his Manchester City players ‘support the club 100 per cent’ as they return to action for the first time since being handed European ban
- Pep Guardiola has reiterated his players commitment to Manchester City
- The City boss said they are ‘exceptional professionals’ prior to facing West Ham
- City were handed a two-year ban from the Champions League by UEFA last week
Pep Guardiola ensured his players are ‘100 per cent’ committed to Manchester City in the wake of their two-year ban from the Champions League.
The Premier League champions were handed a hefty punishment by UEFA having been found to have committed ‘serious breaches’ of Financial Fair Play regulations.
City have strenuously denied they have broken any rules and while question marks have been raised about whether star players will depart if the ban is upheld, Guardiola quashed talk by insisting players have been ‘excellent professionals’ since news broke.
Pep Guardiola insisted his players have been ‘excellent professionals’ with news of their ban
City have held a series of meetings to reassure staff after UEFA’s announcement last Friday
‘They are exceptional professionals,’ he told Sky Sports ahead of their rearranged Premier League game against West Ham on Wednesday.
‘We are professionals, we want to play games we had the break and it was good for us, I imagine for the West Ham players as well.
‘See our families then back to business doing our training sessions, playing games every three or four games it has happened over the past three or four years every time. It is not a problem.’
Guardiola and City’s star players met with the chief executive on Saturday to discuss the news
Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards felt the news summed up the feeling among supporters that the ‘world is against us’ when it comes to their recent successes.
‘At times it does feel like the world is against us,’ the ex-City right back added on Sky.
‘The money Sheikh Mansour has invested, ever since it has come in it is like we have become the new Manchester United here [and] everybody doesn’t like Manchester United.
‘We have tried to be humble with the money spent at Man City, at times it does feel like everyone is against us. I don’t think it will be too hard to focus, obviously a two year ban but straightaway City came out and said they would appeal that.
‘These players are strong enough, they have the character, and they know they have to do their work on the pitch.
‘Don’t think about things off the pitch, City are contesting it and they have every right to.’
City have already confirmed that they plan to appeal UEFA’s decision to ban them for two years