The drama at the Etihad
The football world is spiraling after reports hit on Friday afternoon that Manchester City has been found guilty on all but one of the 115 charges brought by the Premier League back in February 2023. It’s a massive L for the club’s reputation, but former City midfielder Rodri isn’t buying the narrative.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Spain’s Nations League match against England, Rodri made it clear he still stands by his former team. Despite the news, he’s preaching calm, drawing a parallel to the club’s 2020 legal battle with UEFA, where an initial guilty verdict was eventually overturned. “I believe in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club,” he stated.
The players’ perspective
With the club facing potential sanctions, fans and critics are questioning whether City’s past trophies should even count. Rodri, who spent years at the heart of their winning culture, insists that no court case can erase what the team achieved on the pitch.
“What we did, they cannot take it out of us,” Rodri said. He emphasized that their success was built on daily hard work and chemistry, not money. “I can tell you everything was deserved and I’m glad I could live one of the best eras of English football.”
Why it matters
While City has consistently denied all charges and stated that parts of their legal case are still ongoing, this is arguably the biggest plot twist in recent Premier League history. If the sanctions are as severe as people are predicting, it could completely reshape the power dynamics of English football for years to come.
