Jose Mourinho, the manager of Real Madrid, remarked on the ongoing legal battle involving Manchester City and the Premier League, suggesting that he may not live to see its conclusion. This comment came after an independent commission found Manchester City guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, as well as three out of four charges for failing to cooperate with the investigation. City has denied any wrongdoing and has lodged an appeal against the ruling.
The Premier League accused City of using 'sham' commercial agreements to inflate revenue and understate costs by over 900 million pounds ($1.19 billion) over nearly a decade, leading to inaccurate financial reporting and violations of spending rules.
Mourinho, who managed Manchester United from 2016 to 2018, commented on the case during an interview with Italy’s Corriere dello Sport, stating, 'I would rather laugh about it.' He expressed hope for a resolution but acknowledged the lengthy process ahead, saying, 'There will be a verdict, then appeals, then more appeals.'
Mourinho noted that finishing second behind Guardiola’s Manchester City in the 2017-18 season was one of his significant achievements, given the club's financial power at that time. He mentioned that he has not given up on receiving a winner’s medal for that season, humorously stating, 'I think we still have a chance to win that league because maybe they punish Man City with points and maybe we win that league.'
The appeal process will be conducted privately, and it is uncertain whether any sanctions will be imposed before the hearing or if any punishment will take effect immediately. Currently, Manchester City is at the top of the Premier League with 15 points from five matches and is set to face Liverpool on Sunday. Arsenal will host Leeds, while Manchester United will play against Tottenham on the same day. Meanwhile, Mourinho’s Real Madrid is six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona after five wins and two defeats in their seven matches this season, with both teams scheduled to play on Saturday against Getafe and Villarreal, respectively.