Scandal, ahead of Liverpool clash, doubts over Guardiola's continuity with Manchester City

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola insists that his "future" at his current club will not depend on "being in the Premier League or not", and that he is even more likely to continue in the event of a hypothetical relegation should he receive a sanction from the English FA for failing to comply with Financial Fair Play. "I will wait and see and after the ruling has been made we will come here (to a press conference) and explain. But I will absolutely not consider my future if it depends on being here or not in the Premier League. 

There is more chance of me staying if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League," Pep Guardiola told the pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City's clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday. The Catalan coach insisted City are being "questioned" as if they have already been "punished" and insisted that for the moment they are "innocent until proven guilty". 

"I know the people want it, I know, I feel it," he added, insinuating that public opinion wants City's relegation. "I said it a month ago, if we have done something wrong we will be punished, but we can defend ourselves. We don't agree with what we are accused of and we will defend ourselves. And after everything is resolved, I will be here, as a spokesman for my club. So we have to wait," the City boss said. 

Guardiola makes City fans nervous

On the other hand, Guardiola confirmed that Erling Haaland trained this Friday "with some discomfort", although he hopes he "can take part" in the match against Liverpool. "I will know at 18.00 who we have available, and if Haaland is available, it is always plan A," he said of the possibility of having the Norwegian available.