Clicky
Sports, Football

De Bruyne lifts Man City spirits, Guardiola to stay despite Euro ban


Bangladeshpost
Published : 20 Feb 2020 05:46 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 12:16 PM

Manchester City cruised to a 2-0 win over West Ham on Wednesday as Pep Guardiola's side returned to action for the first time following the club's shock two-year ban from European competitions, reports AFP.

Goals from Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne lifted City's spirits as they cemented their hold on second place in the Premier League.

The Champions League and Europa League suspension for alleged financial fair-play regulations drew a furious response over the weekend from City supporters who have long believed UEFA hold an agenda against their Abu Dhabi-owned club.

Yet the attendance at the Etihad Stadium for the visit of David Moyes' struggling side was disappointing, with approximately 10,000 empty seats greeting the two sets of players before kick-off.

That may have been due, in part, to the fact the fixture was rescheduled from its original date 10 days earlier due to storms. Live TV coverage and gridlocked early evening Manchester traffic also did not help supporters arrive in good time for a fixture in which their team was seeking to close the 25-point gap to leaders Liverpool.

It was a curiously subdued atmosphere, therefore, rather than the expected frenzied demonstration of anti-UEFA rhetoric.

There were a couple of home-made banners proclaiming "UEFA Cartel" and "UEFA Mafia", as well as chants of adulation praising City owner Sheikh Mansour and boss Guardiola.

There were also taunts to UEFA that "we'll see you in court" and crude songs aimed at the governing body.

But not until Rodri headed City into a 29th minute lead did City fans become truly animated as their team maintained their complete dominance against the visitors. It is fair to say, however, that there will be a very different atmosphere when City next play at the Etihad in the Champions League, with Real Madrid the visitors on March 17 in the last-16 second leg.

Meanwhile, after the match Pep Guardiola insisted that he will stay with Manchester City and vowed that the "truth will prevail" over their shock two-year ban from European competitions. That was the best possible news for City fans, who will hope Guardiola's faith in what he has been told by his bosses proves wise.

Guardiola said City's Abu Dhabi-based owners told him the ban was unfair and he supports their decision to appeal.

"It's not finished. The club believes it's unfair so we are going to appeal. When someone believes they are right they have to fight," he said.

"We are going to fight like we have fought every single game. We are optimistic that at the end the truth will prevail and next season we will be in the Champions League. "All we can do on the pitch is what we have done the last four years and focus on that until the end of the season.

"I trust 100 percent completely my club what they have done. They explained to me the reasons why."

the club reacted furiously, immediately vowing to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Amid speculation that Guardiola could quit if they lose the appeal, the City manager used his first public comments since news of the suspension broke to make it clear he will not desert the club whatever happens in court. "If they don't sack me I will stay here 100 percent more than ever. First because I want to stay. It's something special, more than the contract I have," Guardiola told Sky Sports after Wednesday's 2-0 win against West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

"I said before, I say now, I want to stay and help the club and maintain this level as long as possible.

"When I said I love this club I like to be here, why should I leave? No matter what happens I will be here next season."