Andy Robertson has defended Manchester City’s players against the prospect of their trophies being stripped if the club is punished over alleged breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
The Scotland captain said the players should not be held responsible for allegations concerning the club’s ownership and said City’s achievements on the pitch should be judged separately from the case.
City have been found guilty of multiple breaches of Premier League fair play rules. The club are expected to appeal.
“For me, the players showed they were good enough on the pitch,” Robertson said. “I don’t know too much about the charges and stuff like that.
“But they had an incredible team, one that I loved battling against. I don’t think when it comes to these things that players are ever to blame. That’s all I can focus on.”
Robertson spent nine years at Liverpool and regularly competed against Pep Guardiola’s City for major honours before joining Tottenham.
The possibility of trophies being removed retrospectively has been raised as one potential sanction if City’s verdict is upheld.
Robertson’s comments differ from those of his former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who previously said he would celebrate if City were stripped of silverware.
City have denied wrongdoing throughout the case and are understood to be preparing an appeal against the verdict. The Premier League’s disciplinary process has yet to reach its final conclusion, with the potential penalties still to be determined.
Former City player Rodri has already said the players will continue to believe in the club’s innocence despite the verdict.
“They always expressed the confidence that they never did something wrong, and we believe in that,” Rodri said. “Until the moment they are proved wrong, we believe in the club. I’ve been there, I know how they work, and how they cooperate.”
