Pochettino calls Man City success ‘a period of deception’

Mauricio Pochettino, the US manager with experience at Chelsea, Tottenham and Southampton, has described Manchester City's long period of success as a "period of deception" following their reported violation of the Premier League's financial regulations. The independent commission found City guilty of breaching the majority of the 115 charges against them, though a formal announcement has yet to be made by the league.

City has vigorously denied the accusations, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak expressing confidence in their innocence. Pochettino, who spent seven years managing Chelsea, Tottenham and Southampton in the Premier League, believes that City's guilt has caused significant harm to both the club and the Premier League as a whole. He emphasized that the damage cannot be undone and that the celebration of success was not genuinely earned.

Pochettino highlighted the disparity in how different clubs have been treated under the strict financial controls imposed by the Premier League, stating that it created an unfair environment. He described the situation as a "sadness" and a "period of deception," questioning how the club can repair the damage caused. City faces potential punishments, including points deduction, expulsion, or a substantial fine, and is likely to appeal the decision.

The possibility of stripping City of their titles won since 2008 has also been discussed, and Pochettino, while uncertain about a fitting sanction for City, expressed his frustration with the perceived inconsistency in how different clubs are held to financial regulations.