London (AFP)

Pep Guardiola said he was relieved Tuesday by the lifting of the ban on Manchester City participation in the next two European cups by the Arbitral Tribunal for Sport (CAS), a decision criticized by rival coaches José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp.

"I am incredibly happy with this decision. It shows that everything that people said about the club was not true," said Pep Guardiola at a press conference on Tuesday.

The body based in Lausanne (Switzerland) canceled Monday in appeal the suspension of two years of European competitions inflicted in Manchester City by UEFA last February for non-compliance with the rules of financial fair play.

"Nobody can understand how difficult it was for the club to be suspected. Now that we have proven in court (our innocence), we are going back to the field," said the Catalan technician.

José Mourinho, Tottenham coach and eternal rival to Pep Guardiola, assured that the CAS decision was a "disaster" which brought about the end of financial fair play.

- "A shameful decision" -

"It is a shameful decision, because if Manchester City is not guilty, then being punished with a few million is a shame. If you are not guilty, you are not punished. On the other hand, if you are guilty , you should be banned, so this is also a shameful decision. In any case, the decision is a disaster, "said the Portuguese.

"I really believe that financial fair play is dead," he added, saying that "the new club owners will feel that this circus has opened the door, so let's go and enjoy it."

Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp also commented on the CAS decision.

"I don't wish anything bad for anyone but I don't think it's a good day for football. Financial fair play is a good idea and he was there to protect the teams and the competition," said Klopp in particular. .

The German hopes that the Citizens' participation in the next Champions League campaign will help his team to maintain its Premier League title.

"Personally, I’m happy that Manchester City can participate in the Champions League next season, because if they have 12 fewer games (in the group stage), I see no chance for the other teams to win the Premier League ", summed up the former coach of Borussia Dortmund.

© 2020 AFP