The former Liverpool defender Andy Robertson believes trophy-winning Manchester City players should not have their achievements diminished or removed because of the actions of the club’s ownership.

Robertson was flying from a training camp in Spain to Slovenia with the Scotland squad when news emerged that City have been found guilty of multiple breaches of the Premier League’s financial fair play rules. The Scotland captain, who regularly jousted with City during his nine years at Anfield from 2017, was taken aback when news of the upcoming verdict was put to him in Ljubljana.

With the Premier League likely to penalise City heavily – it is understood the club intend to appeal against a guilty verdict – retrospective trophy removal has been cited as a potential punishment. Robertson made clear he sees little merit in that.

“For me, the players showed they were good enough on the pitch,” said the 32-year-old. “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’s former Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, said he would throw a party if City had silverware removed.

Robertson, now at Tottenham, will win his 98th cap and move within four of the record held by Kenny Dalglish when Scotland face Slovenia in the Nations League on Saturday.