USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino says Manchester City’s guilty verdict represents a period of deceit that no punishment can repair.
USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino has delivered a scathing assessment of Manchester City’s (2.50) Premier League charges.
He said no punishment can repair the damage if the club is confirmed guilty of 114 of 115 charges.
A Verdict That Defies Simple Punishment
Pochettino spoke ahead of the USMNT’s friendly against Chile this week. He struggled to identify a fair sanction given the scale of the findings.
“It’s very difficult when out of 115 charges you are found guilty of 114 to know what the punishment should be to make it fair,” he said.
He compared the case to lesser sanctions handed to Nottingham Forest (3.25) and Everton: “There are other clubs like Nottingham Forest or Everton that broke rules and received different sanctions,” Pochettino explained.
He questioned how such extensive breaches went undetected. “It’s also fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken like that,” he said.
Personal Experience With Financial Restraint
Pochettino managed Southampton (5.00), Tottenham (4.30) and Chelsea (1.73) during periods covered by the charges. He recalled Tottenham’s extreme financial caution while building their new stadium.
“I remember building the stadium and not having the economic possibility of a transfer for 18 months,” he said.
He believes Tottenham remain the only club in Premier League history to endure that gap: “That was a big disadvantage because we were fighting among the best teams and reaching a Champions League final,” Pochettino said.
He questioned the inconsistency in how financial rules were enforced: “They were so strict with us but also so lenient with others,” he added.
Questioning What Was Really Celebrated
Pochettino reflected on how the charges cast doubt over an entire era of Premier League history.
“What was already achieved and celebrated maybe wasn’t real,” he said.
He described the situation as deeply saddening for everyone involved in the competition: “We have lived through a period where sporting justice did not exist,” Pochettino said.
He offered a stark verdict on the broader implications: “If it’s true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit,” he added. “No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done,” Pochettino concluded.
A Familiar Complaint About Chelsea
Pochettino also referenced Chelsea’s own historical breaches during his time competing against them. He previously called for Chelsea’s 2016-17 title to be stripped and awarded to his Tottenham side.
“I said at the time… that they were better because they got more points, but by breaking rules,” he said. “How do you repair that?” Pochettino asked.
Manchester City continues to deny any wrongdoing and plans to appeal the verdict. Other Premier League clubs are reportedly seeking legal advice over potential compensation claims.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has said the process could still take years to fully resolve. Pochettino’s comments add another prominent voice questioning the Premier League’s regulatory credibility.
