Pep Guardiola gave a brief response to Everton boss Sean Dyche questioning why the Toffees have been punished despite being charged after Man City.
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Dyche questioned why Everton were punished before CityToffees hit with 10-point deduction for breaching P&S rulesGuardiola gives blunt response despite chargesGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The Premier League hit City with 115 charges a year ago for allegedly breaching financial rules but are yet to to face a punishment, whereas Everton received a 10-point deduction in November – seven months after being charged for allegedly breaking profit and sustainability regulations. Now, Dyche and Guardiola have had their say on why one team has been sanctioned and the other has not.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT PEP GUARDIOLA SAID
The former Barcelona boss said in his pre-match press conference on Friday: "I know my opinion about that. I spoke many times. I don't have anything else to add. We will wait."
This came after Everton manager Dyche mused: "Just like everyone else, we are all wondering what makes one rule for one and one rule for the other. I think that's the only thing. I don't know the ins and outs for every reason but I think we are all asking that. The people in the street are asking that: 'Why is it particularly Everton?'
"I don't know what the exact number is but they reference over 100 charges. I don't know the implications of that either, I don't know the detail of them charges but you go well, we have one. You just go with common sense, I'm not talking about the rules. I'm not questioning Man City or whatever they've done stuff or not done stuff. The point is it is certainly a long time. That story has been going round for a while now about all these charges.
"So how come that's that and where is everyone else's charges? What's happening with them? I don't even know how you answer that many charges if there is that many. I don't know the variants of what the charges are."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Everton, who are appealing their points deduction, were charged with breaching the league's P&S rules, along with Nottingham Forest last month – with both teams maintaining their innocence. City's FFP case is set to go ahead later this year, with some claiming they could get relegated if found guilty.
(C)Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Guardiola's City host Dyche's Everton on Saturday in a clash between second and 18th in the Premier League. If the home team win, they will go top of the table whereas victory for the Toffees could see them climb out of the relegation zone if results go their way.