Rodri shares his thoughts on Manchester City verdict

Rodri shares his thoughts on Manchester City verdict Rodri Defends Manchester City Innocence After Premier League Charges Verdict Rodri has said what plenty inside Manchester City have been saying privately for a long time. He believes the club are innocent, and until the legal process says otherwise, that is where he stands. The former City midfielder, now at Barcelona, spoke before Spain’s Uefa Nations League meeting with England at Wembley. His message was simple, direct and unsurprising. “They always express the confidence that they never did something wrong and we believe in that,” Rodri said. This comes after Manchester City were found guilty of breaching most of the 115 Premier League financial rules they were accused of breaking. The club are expected to appeal, which means this story remains far from over. For now, there is a verdict, but there is also another stage to come, and that matters. Rodri Backs Manchester City Position Rodri’s argument rests on trust and precedent. He was part of the dressing room during City’s previous battle with financial fair play authorities. That case ended with the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturning Uefa’s two-year ban from European competition in 2020. For him, that experience shapes how players view the current Manchester City charges. “Until the moment they are proved wrong, we will believe the club. They always tell us the confidence they have on the innocence.” He also added, “We had the example of 2020 that the process was the same and at the end nothing happened.” Rodri went further, saying, “We have faced something similar, we had a similar judicial process. Different accusation but similar process. Photo IMAGO “There as well in the first instance we were found guilty, but we believed in the club and the innocence that the club maintained and in the end we ended up acquitted. “So, I believe in the justice system, and I believe in the innocence of the club.” That is the key point. He is not arguing the case in legal terms. He is saying that from the inside, the message was consistent, and based on past experience, the players trusted it. Premier League Case Leaves Big Questions The scale of the Manchester City charges means the consequences could be severe, at least in theory. During the period covered by the Premier League case, City won eight trophies, including three league titles, three League Cups, one Community Shield and one FA Cup. Rodri has no interest in hearing talk about those honours being taken away. “What we did, they cannot take out of us,” he said. “It’s something that is not paid by money. It’s paid with effort, with the damage, with, you know, being shoulder to shoulder every day. “I can tell you that everything was deserved, and I’m glad that I could live one of the best eras of English football in here.” It is an emotional defence, not a technical one. He is talking about labour, sacrifice and collective work. Whether that changes anything in the appeal process is another matter entirely. It will not. But it explains why former players are rallying around the club. Appeal Process Will Define Financial Fair Play Debate There is also a political note to this. Andy Burnham urged caution and said people should wait before rushing to judgment. “I would have to look at the report of the independent commission, and people shouldn’t jump to those kinds of conclusions,” he said. He added, “I know this has been a long process between the club and the Premier League. I think it has been quite a contested process. “So I don’t think it’s as simple as jumping to conclusions. I think we would all need to study the independent commission’s report in some considerable detail before reaching any conclusions.” That is sensible enough. The Manchester City charges are too serious, and too complicated, for hot takes. Rodri has drawn his line clearly. He trusts the club. The Premier League has its verdict. The appeal will decide what carries real weight when the noise dies down.