Former Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has backed the club’s owners and leadership following the Premier League’s guilty verdict over financial-rule breaches.
Guardiola, who left City at the end of last season after a decade in charge, said he would continue to stand by the club, its players, staff and supporters as City prepare to appeal the verdict.
“I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola wrote on social media.
“I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, [manager] Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.
“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
An independent commission found City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, as well as all but one of the charges relating to the club’s failure to co-operate with the investigation.
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The commission found that City had used “sham” commercial contracts as part of a scheme that artificially inflated revenue and reduced costs. The case covers a nine-season period, with the club continuing to deny wrongdoing and expected to appeal the findings.
Guardiola took charge of City in July 2016, meaning the latter part of the period under investigation overlapped with his tenure.
During his time at the Etihad, he led City to six Premier League titles, including a record four consecutive league titles from 2020-21 to 2023-24. He also won the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups among a haul of major trophies.
The Spaniard had previously said he would remain at City even if the club were relegated over the financial case.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has maintained that the club remains confident of proving its innocence, while chief executive Ferran Soriano has rejected the commission’s findings and said “irrefutable evidence” was ignored.
City have until October 2 to appeal the verdict, with any sanctions to be determined separately.
