Why Manchester City ban could help West Ham

Manchester City’s two-year ban from all UEFA competitions for breaching European financial fair play regulations might help West Ham in advance of the rescheduled game on Wednesday night.

With the Premier League championship all but out of reach City were playing a Champions League place which they are now banned from taking up.

The Manchester side could also face sanctions from the Premier League including a ten-point deduction or even relegation to League two in an extreme outcome.

City manager Pep Guardiola job remains in question and the club is embroiled in a global media frenzy over alleged concealed payments to inflate sponsorship deals, which allowed the club to falsely meet financial fair play regulations.

Manchester City have two Premier League games before a Champions League game in Spain against Real Madrid one week after they play the Hammers.

David Moyes will be hoping that Guardiola uses the West Ham game to rest some senior players or try out some of his youngsters.