Carrick and Arteta react to Manchester City verdict: 'Uncertainty is not good for anyone'

The guilty verdict against Manchester City for breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period has forced several top-flight managers to speak out. Michael Carrick, now in charge of Manchester United, has made it clear that no title awarded in retrospect would bring back the emotions he lived or missed out on during that dramatic final day in 2012. Meanwhile, Andoni Iraola understands the anger among Liverpool supporters and Mikel Arteta insists his conscience is clear about his time as Pep Guardiola's assistant.

• Michael Carrick says a retrospective medal would not make up for lost moments of glory.
• Andoni Iraola believes the current uncertainty helps nobody and wants a quick resolution.
• Vincent Kompany, the former City captain, remains 'really proud' of what he achieved on the pitch.
• Mikel Arteta insists his conscience is clear about his spell as assistant at the Etihad.
• Roberto De Zerbi, focused on Tottenham's crisis, recalls his experience with the Juventus case.

Carrick and the 2012 final day: 'The emotion is in the moment'

Carrick was part of the Manchester United squad that watched City lift the title in the dying seconds of the 2011-12 season. Sergio Aguero's late winner against Queens Park Rangers left Sir Alex Ferguson's players frozen on the pitch at Sunderland while their rivals celebrated a title won on goal difference. The independent commission examining the club's accounts concluded that rules were broken between 2009 and 2018, a period that includes that dramatic finale.

For Carrick, the value of a title does not lie only in the trophy itself, but in what is felt when winning it. "The emotion, the feeling about winning, a lot of it is in the moment," he explained. The United manager stressed that this initial sensation, the one from the finale, is impossible to repeat: once the match is over, there is no way to recover it. That is why he believes a medal handed out years later would not close any wounds.

The feeling we all crave is coming out on top. Whatever's done in the past is in the past, but how you feel in that moment is what matters. I'm sure supporters feel the same: that's why we love this game so much, because of the emotion in the moment.

The uncertainty surrounding City and the call for a swift resolution

City continue to plead their innocence and have appealed against the verdict. If the appeal fails, the punishment could be severe. Carrick prefers not to speculate on consequences while the process remains open, but he is clear about one thing: the sooner the case is closed, the better for everyone. "It's affected me personally in different ways," he admitted, although he avoided going further until the final outcome is known.

Iraola shares that sense of urgency. The Liverpool manager avoided condemning City during his first press conference since the verdict was announced, but he did argue that English football needs a firm resolution as quickly as possible. "It should be concluded quickly. There has to be a moment when something comes from all this, but now is not that moment. Nobody knows what is going to happen and this uncertainty is no good for anyone," he said.

Anfield's anger and the visit of the league leaders

Liverpool host Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday and a hostile reception is expected for the current Premier League leaders. City pipped Liverpool to the title in 2013-14, 2018-19 and 2021-22, and the rivalry between Jurgen Klopp's and Pep Guardiola's teams defined an era. Iraola understands the frustration in the stands and has no intention of trying to control it.

"I understand everything around football. Every fan will have their own opinion and attitude, but it's not something I can control. I have to do my job and give the best possible performance on the pitch so our supporters are happy on Sunday," he said. The challenge is enormous: Liverpool face the match without their top scorer, Alexander Isak, and the in-form Cody Gakpo, both injured during the international break.

Arteta and his clear conscience after his time at the Etihad

Mikel Arteta served as Guardiola's assistant at City for more than three years, from July 2016 to December 2019. That period includes two Premier League titles, one of them during the years in which the club breached financial regulations according to the commission. Asked directly whether his conscience was clear about that spell, the Arsenal manager replied with a simple "yes".

Arteta refused to comment on possible sanctions and admitted he finds it difficult to express how he feels while the process remains unresolved. "This has been going on for years and the process is still not finished. When it is resolved I can talk with clarity and tell you exactly how I feel," he explained. He also rejected the idea that Arsenal should be seen as the main beneficiary if City were relegated, despite having finished as runners-up for three consecutive seasons before becoming champions last year.

Kompany, proud of his legacy as City captain

Vincent Kompany, the former Manchester City captain and current Bayern Munich manager, does not disown his past. The Belgian won four Premier League titles and multiple domestic cups between 2008 and 2019, and has a statue outside the Etihad Stadium. "I played eleven years for the club, I loved all the years I played there and everything we achieved on the pitch. I'm really proud of that," he said.

Kompany joined City from Hamburg just weeks before Sheikh Mansour completed the takeover that transformed the club. On the off-pitch issues, he was blunt: as a player he was never part of those decisions and now, as Bayern coach, he is focused on preparing his next match. "Everything else, as a player you're not part of that," he concluded.

De Zerbi, between the Juventus memory and Tottenham's urgency

Roberto De Zerbi is living a very different situation. His Tottenham side sit bottom of the table and the Italian says he has no time to dwell on the City verdict. That does not stop him from recalling a close experience: he was a Napoli player in the 2006-07 season, just after Juventus were relegated to Serie B over the match-fixing scandal. "I was crazy as a player, I don't remember my thoughts, I just thought about the ball and my job," he said.

De Zerbi insisted that episode did not change Italian football and stressed that there are people responsible for making decisions with responsibility, courage and honesty. His focus lies elsewhere: Tottenham visit Manchester United on Sunday in a tension-packed clash. The good news for his side is the imminent return of Dejan Kulusevski, who has been out for more than 500 days with a complex knee injury. The Swede will travel to Manchester to support the team as he closes in on a comeback.

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