Pochettino, very harsh on Manchester City: "You can't turn back now, too much damage has been done"

Mauricio Pochettino spoke out about the resolution of the lengthy case that has pitted Manchester City against the Premier League and focused on the consequences that, in his view, go far beyond whatever punishment the club may receive.

The United States coach, who previously managed Southampton, considers it especially difficult to determine what an appropriate sanction would be after the financial breaches established in the proceedings. For Pochettino, the problem is not limited to deciding between a financial fine, a points deduction, or another sporting measure. "It is very difficult to know what the punishment should be," the coach explained when asked about the situation of the Manchester side.

Pochettino also recalled that during his time in the Premier League there were clubs that had to comply strictly with the rules while competing with City. In that sense, he believes that the current debate also affects all those teams that took part in the competition during the years under investigation. The coach insisted that any eventual sanction cannot make what happened disappear or give back to clubs and fans what, in his words, has already been lost.

Many clubs followed the rules and some did not. Perhaps they thought the punishment would never come

'" Whatever punishment they decide on, it is impossible to turn back time. A lot of damage has been done" , he stated. Pochettino also questioned how this situation could have been reached and brought up the difference between the clubs that complied with the rules and those that were accused of breaking them. " Many clubs followed the rules and some did not. Perhaps they thought the punishment would never come. It is fair to ask now where the controls were that allowed the rules to be broken in that way. That is what strikes me the most ", he pointed out.'

They were very strict with us, but also very lenient with the others

'Comparing it with the situation at Chelsea , who were also banned from signing players for several windows for failing several checks, the Argentine recalls the 2016-17 Premier League that the "blues" won... with his Tottenham finishing second. "If a team like Tottenham, which was fighting for titles with those who were above us and every year stayed in the top four, reaching the Champions League semifinals without being able to sign any players for 18 months... was it all because we needed to adapt to the Premier League's financial controls? They were very strict with us, but also very permissive with the others . That's why I say that everything is very strange" , '

Difficult to assess the sanction due to the scale of the case

Regarding the possible consequences, the coach mentioned alternatives such as a points deduction or a financial penalty , although he acknowledged that neither of them is easy to assess given the scale of the case.

We experienced something in which sporting justice did not exist

'Beyond whatever measures may ultimately be adopted, Pochettino believes there is a bigger problem: the mark this whole episode leaves on the competition and on those who lived through it for years. "It is sad. It is an enormous sadness," he commented.'

And he added a reflection on the perception of sporting justice during that period: " We experienced something in which sporting justice did not exist. So, how do you repair everything that was damaged? ".

It is fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken in that way

For Pochettino, that is precisely the most difficult issue to resolve: not only determining what punishment the Manchester City deserves, but assessing the consequences the case has had on the credibility of the competition, its clubs, and its fans.