'Not one rule' - what Man City directors told players in secret meeting on day of 115 charges

'Be very calm' has been the mantra at Manchester City even before they were hit with 115 charges for alleged financial breaches by the Premier League.

City had faced down UEFA at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, always insisting their innocence, and won - and their stance in the face of the Premier League charges has always been the same. In the club's only official statement on the charges, they said they welcome the chance to present their 'irrefutable' body of evidence to prove their innocence in front of an independent panel.

Today, that opportunity begins, with the start of an eagerly anticipated trial that will have huge implications on the wider Premier League whatever verdict is reached.

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On the eve of the behind-closed-doors trial, former defender Aymeric Laporte has revealed how CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain held a meeting with players and staff to reassure them soon after news of the charges dropped.

Pep Guardiola has always said that City and their directors have reassured him that they have done nothing wrong, with Guardiola urging patience outside of the Etihad for the legal process to play out fairly.

Now, Laporte has lifted the lid on that meeting, telling the Mail: "‘When I was there and the news broke, the sporting director [Begiristain] and the CEO [Soriano] came and told all the players and staff that we can all be very calm because not one rule has been broken by Man City.

"They told us everything was fine so that’s why we all think City will be fine. I don’t think