Guardiola stands by Manchester City after guilty verdicts: 'We will get through this together'
Pep Guardiola has thrown his full weight behind Manchester City after the club were found guilty of serious breaches of Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period, telling fans in an emotional social media post: "We will get through this together."
In a statement released on Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed City had been found guilty of all charges relating to serious breaches of the competition's financial rules between 2009-10 and 2017-18, plus the majority of charges regarding the club's failure to co-operate with the league's investigation. The charges were first brought against the club in February 2023, when the Premier League accused Manchester City of a total of 115 breaches of its rules.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters said City had "systematically broken Premier League Rules for nearly a decade", describing the decision as the "most significant" in the competition's history. City maintain their innocence and are set to appeal before Friday's deadline, with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak saying last Friday that he remained confident of proving the club's innocence.
Guardiola's defiant response
Guardiola left City in the summer after a trophy-laden decade in charge, with his first two seasons falling inside the period examined by the independent commission. On Wednesday, he addressed the club's supporters directly, posting a message alongside an image of himself and Al Mubarak.
"I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, and always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."
The 55-year-old won 20 major trophies during his decade at the Etihad Stadium, including six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23. He was repeatedly asked about the charges that hung over the club for much of his tenure, and consistently repeated his faith in what he was told by the club's Abu Dhabi ownership.
"I trust them," Guardiola said in May. "I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did."
The Spaniard remains a close ally of chief executive Ferran Soriano, who brought him to England, the pair having previously worked together at Barcelona. Upon Guardiola's departure, it was confirmed that he would continue as a global ambassador for City Football Group, offering "technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations".
'Absolutely devastated': reaction from former players and directors
Not everyone shares Guardiola's defiant tone. Former City defender Micah Richards, who won a Premier League title and an FA Cup during his time at the Etihad, said the verdict left him feeling "absolutely devastated".
David Bernstein, City's chairman between 1998 and 2003, was far more damning, describing the situation at the club as "beyond awful" and calling for the current board to stand down.
"I can't think of a penalty strong enough for this, really. I mean, this is absolutely terrible," Bernstein said. "I want to raise another question, and that is the position of the board of directors. Because the directors of the club, including the chief executive, who's been there for years and went through this period, are responsible for the running of the club in every respect. If this was a public company of some sort, the directors would have to stand down or be suspended pending the outcome of all this, appeal or no appeal. I don't think the present management can credibly continue."
City's appeal must be lodged before the October 2 deadline, a decision that will shape the future of one of English football's most scrutinised clubs.