Champions League: Man City in ban battle with Uefa
Champions League football is at stake for Pep Guardiola and Man City. The week ahead will determine their fate.
Man City faces a strenuous week ahead as they go head-to-head with Uefa in an attempt to change the outcome of their Champions League ban. When we say European football is at stake, we actually mean a lot more than no games on a Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Their appeal in the Court of Arbitration for Sport commenced today, Monday, and will run a three-day course as per the Evening Standard. The appeal from the English club is to try to lift the ban sanctioned by the governing body of European football, Uefa.
More from Champions League
- Manchester United predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich – UEFA Champions League 2023/24
- Arsenal predicted lineup vs PSV: Mikel Arteta to drop “Henry-esque” winger
- Newcastle predicted lineup vs AC Milan: Tough decisions for Eddie Howe
- Newcastle United extend Callum Wilson’s contract for another year
- Arsenal: Mikel Arteta excludes £38m signing in Champions League squad
"Manchester City braced for Uefa battle that will decide Champions League ban and fate of their biggest names. The three-day hearing will be carried out via video conference with City sparing no expense in their bid to clear their name after being found guilty of serious breaches of Financial Fair Play by Uefa."
Man City really put their feet in the wrong soccer boots this time when they deceived Uefa with their financial affairs. The club themselves feel they have been wrongfully accused and are assured they will come out of this without having to endure the embargo.
"They were accused of misleading Uefa over their finances, including artificially inflating sponsorships to avoid FFP penalties. They refute all charges, with CEO Ferran Soriano insisting: “They are simply not true. (Via: Evening Standard)"
A City without its Citizens
A City without its Citizens is a dysfunctional one. If the Manchester side lost centre-stage football, they’d surely lose the cream of their crop. You could go as far as saying another rebuilding phase could take place and they’d fall behind their counterparts for at least two seasons.
If their motion to lift the ban is denied, one player has already said he will rethink his situation and will probably venture somewhere abroad, all to be able to play at the highest level. That player is Kevin de Bruyne. If he is already thinking about it, who isn’t? All players his age are looking for the same exposer in world football.
This is one of the main reasons world-class players joined Man City, to play in the UCL. Who are the players between the ages of 28 and 33? De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, İlkay Gundogan, Sergio Aguero, Nicolás Otamendi, and Riyad Mahrez, are players who will miss out on Champions League football during their best years.
David Silva will be leaving, Leroy Sane is on his way out, searching for a transfer to Bayern Munich, and Fernandinho will be retired like a millionaire soon. Hard to believe and to imagine but the Citizens will be extremely light in personnel and will be unable to compete on all fronts as they have been for the past decade.
Next. Premier League - Place your bets. dark
If the money is offered by City, players would consider staying. And they have money in barrel loads. However, it must be said this is a lot of firepower and experience that will be walking out the door if they can’t solve their European issues.
Full Story on the appeal: Evening Standard