Following the Premier League’s finding of guilt against Manchester City, long-serving manager Pep Guardiola has now spoken out – and thrown his support behind the club.
For a decade, from 2016 to 2026, Pep Guardiola was at the helm at Manchester City, shaping the club like no other. According to the Premier League, the club breached the league’s financial regulations during parts of his tenure. The Catalan has now issued an emotional statement via social media regarding the ruling against the Sky Blues, which could potentially even result in forced relegation.
“I want every single Manchester City fan around the world to know that I am here for you – more than ever,” Guardiola wrote on his social media channels. “I stand behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, the staff, Enzo and you, our unique fans – that has always been the case and always will be.” Ferran Soriano is the club’s managing director, whom Guardiola already knew from his time at Barcelona and who later brought him to Manchester. Enzo Maresca is Guardiola’s successor as head coach.
The statement contains no specific comment on the allegations or the verdict, but it is full of emotion. “Let me make one thing clear: we will get through this together,” writes Guardiola, concluding with: “I love you all.” The post is accompanied by pictures of him with the Champions League trophy, at the City Stadium and with his colleagues from the management team. Following his resignation as manager, Guardiola took on an ambassadorial role for Manchester City.
The club, which won the league title six times and the Champions League once during the Guardiola era, was found guilty on Tuesday by an independent commission on all 115 charges of breaching the Premier League’s financial rules between the 2009/10 and 2017/18 seasons. The club reacted with “surprise” and “disappointment” and intends to prove its innocence. The severity of the punishment has not yet been determined; in addition to fines, sporting sanctions could range from a points deduction to compulsory relegation.
