Manchester City were cleared on Monday of breaking UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

The court overturned the club’s two-year European ban.

But the club’s manager was in a fiery mood as he railed against the idea that cash was behind the club’s two Premier League titles.

For the Spaniard, who won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019, Manchester City are by no means unusual when it comes to spending big on players.

Guardiola, whose side are still fighting this season for their first UEFA Champions League title, said Manchester United and Arsenal had also invested heavily to win previous Premier League titles.

“When Chelsea start (started) to win Premier Leagues, they (had) invested more money than the other ones,” he told reporters.

“I’m a good manager, but I don’t win titles if I don’t have good players and good players are expensive. But all the clubs spend a lot of money.”

Manchester City have spent more than a billion pounds on acquiring players since the club was bought by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2008.

Guardiola took over the team in 2016 and has spent heavily in the transfer market, including nine players who cost more than 45 million pounds (56.46 million dollars) each.

“We can spend as much money as our chairman or our owners want, but always, always in the Financial Fair Play rules and we show it, we were there.

“We were exonerated for something we were accused of, all the time. That is the reality,” said Guardiola.

“When we won, it was on the pitch. All the good things we have done, all the bad things we have done it was on the pitch, in the grass, in the green, there,” he said.

Guardiola pointed out that neighbours Manchester United outbid them to sign Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal and Harry Maguire from Leicester City and highlighted big-spending from other eras.

The former FC Barcelona manager said the pressure of the UEFA investigation had brought him closer to Manchester City.

“I love this club. I love, because I know the people here and I’m working (with them) for a long time. We have our history.

“I don’t know if it’s better or worse, it doesn’t matter, it’s our history. I love it,” he said.

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But he was quick to add that the Norwegian would need more time to build a squad capable of winning titles.

Manchester United have struggled for consistency in Solskjaer’s first full season as manager and have won just two English Premier League (EPL) games since beating Manchester City last month.

Losing to Arsenal on New Year’s Day left Manchester United five points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, but Guardiola has seen signs of Manchester United players finally translating Solskjaer’s
game plans onto the pitch.

“Ole has started seeing the team he wanted — that’s my feeling,” Guardiola told a news conference on Monday, ahead of Manchester City’s League Cup semi-final first leg game against Manchester United on Tuesday.

“Even (from) the last (league) game against Arsenal, which they lost, we saw what they want.

“It’s not easy to handle a team at a big, big club… always demanding to win competitions and every manager needs time. I have the feeling Manchester United started to play the way he wants.”

Guardiola will look to ensure his team is not vulnerable to counter-attacks as they were against their city rivals in December.

That was when the Manchester United duo of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial carved out an early lead at the Etihad Stadium last month.

“I think we conceded few counter-attacks in the beginning and in just two-three seconds they’re in the box. They have incredible pace and talent to do that,” the Spanish coach said.

“In general the game was good, (and) we created chances.”

Manchester City confirmed defender Nicolas Otamendi, who missed the last two games against Port Vale and Everton, has returned to training and will be available for the match at Old Trafford.

“I have an idea of the way I want (us) to play, but I am not 100 per cent sure of the guys who (will) play tomorrow (Tuesday),” Guardiola added.

“Especially with the incredible amount of games some players have in the legs, they should be rested for the previous games.”

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Guardiola made the statement after his side scored a goal against Watford that was initially flagged offside on Saturday.

City’s opening goal by Raheem Sterling in their 3-1 win sparked controversy after referee Paul Tierney changed his mind about the offside call following a discussion with his assistant.

“There should be an easy solution and next season there will be. With VAR, that will not be a problem, it will be fairer,” Guardiola told reporters.

“The game is so fast and so quick, even the people sat here don’t know if it is offside or onside.

“If we have doubts here, imagine how it is for the referee who has to make a decision in a split second.

“I am so sorry and I apologise to Javi (Gracia) and to Watford if the first goal is offside.”

Other Premier League managers have backed the introduction of VAR, including Arsenal’s Unai Emery.

The Arsenal boss suggested that the system might prevent game-changing decisions going the wrong way.

Guardiola said the Premier League was lagging behind other European countries which had already implemented VAR in their top-flight leagues.

“Hopefully next season, like in Europe, they can accept that we install VAR in this situation and it will be fair,” Guardiola added.

“Manchester City voted to install VAR this season. Some other clubs did not accept it.”

The Champions League has also implemented VAR in the knockout stages this season and UEFA has released statements on its website to explain its use of the system.

UEFA said it was introduced to justify decisions made by the referees in the last-16 matches so far.

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The Spain defender said he was unsure of his future after the now Manchester City manager lost faith in him.

The centre-back wrote in the Player’s Tribune that a year after winning a Liga and Champions League double under Guardiola in 2011, he was left contemplating his future at the club.

He said this was because he could not fully buy into the Catalan coach’s notoriously-intense off-field demands and Guardiola’s trust in the player had been knocked.

“I had the worst season of my career. Everything seemed to fall apart in 2012. I don’t know why,” said the 31-year-old who started out in Barca’s youth ranks before joining Manchester United in 2004 and returned to the Nou Camp four years later.

“Perhaps I had lost the fear that drove me to that level. But for whatever reason, I started questioning myself.

“As the season went on, Pep started to lose faith in me. For the first three seasons, we had a phenomenal relationship.

“I still revere Pep as a manager. But the truth is, it was an extremely hard time. He wanted his players to be obsessed with football 24 hours a day, and at that point in my life, I didn’t understand it.

“I wasn’t as committed to that philosophy,’’ Pique, who has played over 250 league games for Barca, said.

The Spain defender was omitted from his side’s Classico meeting with rivals Real Madrid and missed the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final defeat to Chelsea in 2012.

He was recalled for the second leg, only to leave the field with concussion in the first half.

It was a blow that made him consider his future.

“That season really made me think about my career, and my life. It was a wake-up call.

“When our team was playing for it all, Pep didn’t believe in me anymore. Then, when he finally turned to me, I got knocked out cold,” Pique said.

“Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had woken up the next day and found out that we had gone through against Chelsea.

“I was out with a head injury for weeks. So, I definitely wouldn’t have played in the final.

“Maybe we would have won the UEFA Champions League. Maybe Pep would have decided to stay at Barca.

“Maybe he never would have regained his trust in me. Maybe I would be at another club right now.”

Guardiola left FC Barcelona at the end of the 2011-12 season and took a sabbatical before joining Bayern Munich where he spent three years before joining Manchester City.

Pique has won three UEFA Champions League and six Liga titles, as well as five King’s Cup.

He also won five Spanish Super Cup, two European Super Cup and three FIFA Club World Cup trophies with Barca.

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The 29-year-old Argentine was in a taxi going to the airport after watching singer Maluma perform when the accident happened.

Guardiola, after confirming the striker suffered a broken rib in a car accident, added: “He had a day off. He’s OK — the most important thing.

“He cannot play against Chelsea on Saturday.”

The Spanish manager said he did not know how long Aguero would be sidelined for, and added that he only discovered his striker was in the Netherlands early on Friday.

“I think days off are to be happy. I want the players to be happy. Always I am a manager who doesn’t like to train every day.

“I think the players have to rest mentally and physically. They can enjoy their lives. I want my players to have fun. If they decide to go there, they decide to go there. It is OK for me.”

Speaking on the accident, Aguero had told an Argentine radio station that the taxi driver didn’t see the curve, and the car skidded before crashing into the post.

“I’ve broken a rib. Now I’m resting but it’s really painful.”

Aguero’s former club Independiente sent the player their best wishes on Twitter, saying: “Strength and speedy recovery @aguerosergiokun! All @Independiente is with you at this difficult time.”

The striker has scored seven goals in eight matches for City this season.

This has helped Pep Guardiola’s side reach the top of the Premier League and win their first two UEFA Champions League group matches.

The international break follows City’s match against Chelsea.

Aguero was named in Argentina’s squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers against Peru on Oct. 5 and Ecuador on Oct. 10.

Argentina are fifth in the South American section standings, which only guarantees a play-off place.

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