Pep Guardiola reaffirmed that Manchester City's glorious moments will always belong to them, asking if it was the club's fault Steven Gerrard slipped in the 2013-14 season.
City have been accused of over 100 breaches of the Premier League's financial rules between the seasons of 2009-10 and 2017-18.
Speculation has been rife as to the level of punishment the champions might receive should they be found guilty, including points deductions, relegation or the stripping of the titles they won during that time period, including two under Guardiola.
Yet Guardiola has insisted the moments cannot be taken away from City or their fans regardless of the punishment, if indeed there is one, with the manager sarcastically asking the press if it was his club's fault that Liverpool great Gerrard slipped at a vital moment in the 2013-14 title race.
Gerrard fell to the Anfield turf during a clash with Chelsea in April of that season, with Demba Ba going on to score as the Blues triumphed and handed City the chance to go and win their second Premier League title.
"Those moments belong to us. They absolutely belong to us, regardless of the sentence, they belong to us," Guardiola said.
"The goal from Sergio Agüero [in 2012]. I don't know if we are responsible for Steven Gerrard slipping at Anfield. Was that our fault?
"I have respect for Steven Gerrard – but that moment belongs to us.
"The moments that we lived these years together, the Premier League will decide, but I know what we won and the way we won it.
"I know the effort we put in. If something happened in 2009 or 2010 it is not going to change one second."
Guardiola has full faith in the club's hierarchy.
"What I can say is I am proud of my owners, of my chairman, and the relationship we have had, this time together," he said.
"I have relied on them [and what they told me] a lot in the past, now you can't imagine."
Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Guardiola also remains fully committed to City's cause.
"If they want me here I will be here," he continued. "The results are not good, they will put me out because it is a business where you have to win.
"But if they want me I will not let them down and my players, too. I want to convince them that what we have done, we have done and they won't remove it.
"We have to defend our position and the way to do it is on the pitch, that’s the only way, and the way we have done it all the time."
City would move within three points of league leaders Arsenal, who drew with Brentford on Saturday, should they beat Aston Villa on Sunday.
The corresponding fixture last season saw City come from behind to beat Villa – then managed by Gerrard – 3-2 on the final day of the season, clinching the fourth Premier League title of Guardiola's tenure in the process, ahead of Liverpool.
Tottenham 0-1 Arsenal: Gabriel snatches derby-day win
Gabriel Magalhaes scored the decisive goal as Arsenal got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.
The defender netted the only goal of the contest after 64 minutes, punishing Spurs for a lapse in concentration from a corner as he drifted away from Cristian Romero to thump in Bukayo Saka's pinpoint cross.
The hosts had the better chances in the first half, through Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke, but were thwarted by David Raya's saves and some disappointing misses.
Despite Spurs' search for a late equaliser, Arsenal were able to hold out for the win and maintain their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.
Mikel Arteta's side are up to second in the table on 10 points, while Spurs are 13th after suffering their second defeat of the campaign.
Data Debrief: Set-piece specialists
Arsenal have a knack for scoring from set-pieces, and they proved their prowess once more thanks to Gabriel's towering finish.
It is the 23rd goal Arsenal have scored from set-pieces (excluding penalties) since the start of last season, more than any other side, while three of their last four Premier League goals against Spurs have come from corners.
The Gunners secured a sixth consecutive away league win, their best streak since a run of eight between March and September 2013 under Arsene Wenger. They have also now won three consecutive away North London derbies for the first time since September 1988.
Luis Enrique lauds Dembele display ahead of Champions League opener
Luis Enrique showered praise on Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele after his brace kept the defending champions perfect in Ligue 1.
Dembele netted either side of Fabian Ruiz's 73rd-minute strike in PSG's 3-1 win over Brest on Saturday, having overcome Romain Del Castillo's opener.
The Frenchman has already scored as many goals in four league matches this season as he did in 26 encounters last season (three).
Dembele has also scored two headed goals this term, as many as in 211 career league games before that.
He also recorded the most shots on target (five) and touches in the opposition box (12) on Saturday, with his expected goals (xG) tally of 0.76 only bettered by midfielder Marco Asensio (1.08).
"I didn't realise he scored two goals, it was a difficult match against a tough team," Luis Enrique said.
"The least important thing is that he scored two goals, we had many chances for several players to score.
"I've been a Dembele admirer for many years, he's a different player, he comes out on the left and on the right, he has a change of pace, he's intelligent.
"When you are lucky enough to have players of the quality I have, it's a pleasure and a privilege."
PSG kickstart their quest for Champions League glory on Wednesday when they welcome Girona to the Parc des Princes.
Luis Enrique was able to rest the likes of Marquinhos, Asensio and Achraf Hakimi ahead of their meeting with the Catalan side, something he was grateful for.
"Versatility is what makes this squad, of course you miss some players," he said.
"But I have seen the same ability to play, we are a young team full of desire and hunger, it's a wonderful feeling.
"We were able to rest several players, but [Lucas] Beraldo and [Milan] Skriniar were sensational.
"Fabian is in great shape as last season and at the Euros, Lee Kang-in was superb, Joao Neves great in attack and defence.
"I am very fortunate to have this kind of team. The goal is that everyone wants to keep winning titles."
Dundee United 0-1 Rangers: Gers close gap to Celtic with narrow win
Rangers got back to winning ways with a 1-0 victory away to Dundee United on Sunday, which saw them climb to third in the Scottish Premiership.
Philippe Clement's side are now five points behind second-placed Aberdeen and league leaders Celtic, who inflicted their first defeat of the season last time out.
The match itself was one of few chances, with forward Tom Lawrence scoring the winning goal after just seven minutes.
The goal capped a flowing, attacking move from Rangers that saw Lawrence get on the end of some one-touch passing before carrying the ball through the penalty area and beyond the goalkeeper.
Dundee United were unable to offer much in the way of a comeback, with five off-target shots the sum total of their threat throughout the match.
The match did see 10 yellow cards shown, with Dundee United's Emmanuel Adegboyega's booking for a forceful challenge reviewed by VAR towards the end of the first half. The on-field decision stood, though the defender was substituted at the break.
Data Debrief: Rangers end away day woes
Goalscorer Lawrence had five shots in the match, which is a season-high in the league for any Rangers player.
The visitors will be pleased to get three points, having won just one of their previous seven away games prior to this - their worst run since 2016.
It also means they close some of the gap to Old Firm rivals Celtic, who had opened an eight-point buffer following a 2-0 home win over Hearts on Saturday.
The hosts, meanwhile, failed to register a single effort on target for the first time in a league game since 8 May 2022. Their opponents on that day? Rangers.
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