Still unexplained
The hunt for the origins of Covid-19 has for the past four years been a tangled web of politics, power struggles, and international finger-pointing.
After Manchester City faced criticism for its behaviour in China, manager Pep Guardiola has come forward to defend the club.
He went on to deny the claims claiming it to be a “false” report carried out by China’s state-run media house. Notably, the report has accused Manchester City of visiting the Asian country only to reap financial benefits.
An article published in English by the state-owned Xinhua News Agency criticised the club’s “arrogance” and disrespect for the local fans of the sport and sportsperson as well as the media.
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Manchester City played against West Ham and Wolves in Nanjing and Shanghai and will now depart for Hong Kong where they will lock horns with Kitchee on Wednesday.
The accusations by the news agency have surprised the Manchester City manager.
“I should say I don’t agree and also that it’s false,” Guardiola said.
“To make a statement like this, they have to know exactly what happened here in our club.
“We had an incredible time in Shanghai. We were committed to the co-operation you have to do here in China. The people from the hotel, all the people asking us to do things – we were ready to do that.
“That’s why I can’t understand what people are saying.
“Maybe one journalist is a bit upset, I don’t know why, but it’s far away from the reality.”
Interestingly, the original plan was to stay for two more days in China. However, a couple of days were lost to delays in flying out of Manchester.
“For our club it’s a huge experience to go abroad to other countries because we are not Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich,” Guardiola said.
“They’ve been doing it for many years. For us it’s a new experience every season, it will help on the pitch and we did it last season. And off the pitch we are showing what an amazing club we are and how we are trying to be better every season.”
“I’m so proud of what we’ve done. All the marketing departments, all the people who’ve organised this tour.
“And maybe next year or in two years we are going to come back to China when the club decides we should come.”
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