Mauricio Pochettino says Manchester City verdict reveals 'period of deceit' as he questions Premier League controls | OneFootball

Mauricio Pochettino has said that no punishment can repair the damage done by Manchester City if the club are found guilty of their alleged financial rule breaches.

City arereportedly set to be found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges against the club, with the alleged breaches taking place between 2009 and 2018. The club have denied all wrongdoing.

Pochettino was asked about the rumoured verdict against the Cityzens, and questioned whether any sanction would be enough to compensate for the damage caused. The Argentine also asked why the financial controls were so strict on his Tottenham side at the time.

The United States manager was speaking in St. Louis on Monday ahead of Tuesday's friendly against Chile. He was asked about City's case and potential punishment.

"It's very difficult when out of 115 charges you are found guilty of 114 to know what the punishment should be to make it fair. Because there are other clubs like Nottingham Forest or Everton that broke rules and received different sanctions, whether point deductions or fines," Pochettino said, as perESPN.

"It's a very difficult situation that causes astonishment given the magnitude of the verdict. And it's also fair to ask where the controls were for the rules to be broken like that. That's what catches my attention the most."

'Why were those controls so strict with us?'

Pochettino pointed to his time asTottenham Hotspur manager, when the club was building its new stadium and went without a signing in the summer 2018 and January 2019 windows. He questioned why the North Londoners had to operate under such strict measures.

"Why were those controls so strict with us and not as much with others? That's why I say everything is very strange, and the problem is that everything gets clouded," he said.

"If it's true that they broke 114 rules, we have lived through a period of deceit. No type of punishment will make it possible to repair what was done, and thePremier League's controls are severely damaged."

City won three Premier League titles, one FA Cup and three League Cups in the period covered by the charges.

"It's a very sad situation because what was already achieved and celebrated maybe wasn't real, and what wasn't so good could have been better," Pochettino said.

"We have lived through a period where sporting justice did not exist. If the charges are proven, it's very difficult to repair what happened. I hope that at least it serves to ensure equality exists in the future."

Pochettino was also in charge of the Tottenham side that finished runners-up to Chelsea in 2016/17, with the club's London rivals later found guilty of breaching competition rules.

Discussing that issue earlier this month, Pochettino said he believes Spurs should be handed the Premier League title.

"We should have been awarded it," he said, according toThe Athletic.