‘I am here more than ever’: Guardiola backs Manchester City owners over guilty verdicts

Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind Manchester City after the club were found guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period

Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind Manchester City after the club were found guilty of all charges of breaching Premier League financial rules over a nine-year period, telling fans: “We will get through this together.”

Guardiola left City in the summer after a trophy-laden decade in charge, with his first two seasons falling within the period investigated by the independent commission. The Spaniard remains a close ally of the chief executive, Ferran Soriano, who brought him to England, the pair having previously worked together at Barcelona. City maintain their innocence and are set to appeal against the decision before Friday’s deadline.

“I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola posted on social media. “I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”

Twenty trophies were won in the 10 years Guardiola managed City and he was frequently asked about the charges that hung over the club for much of his tenure. The 55-year-old has consistently reiterated his faith in what he was told by the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership while the investigation was ongoing, with charges first brought against the club in February 2023. “I trust them,” Guardiola said in May. “I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did.”

Upon Guardiola’s departure, it was confirmed that he would continue as a global ambassador for City Football Group, which would involve him giving “technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations”.

Meanwhile, David Bernstein, City’s former chair, has described the situation at City as “beyond awful” and called 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,” said Bernstein, who was City’s chair between 1998 and 2003. “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.”

Andrée Jeglertz, the Manchester City women’s head coach, insisted that it has been a case of “business as usual” for his team as they prepare to host Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday. And asked if he echoed Pep Guardiola’s position and if he would back the club, in spite of the Premier League’s guilty verdict, Jeglertz said: “Definitely. I’m working [at] this club now, and that’s definitely what I’m hired for, for sure.”

The Swede declined to comment further when asked if he had been given any assurances that the women’s team would not be impacted by the matter. Jeglertz insisted that his side - who won the Women’s Super League title last season – were focused only on football, saying: “We haven’t changed anything, we just keep on doing everything we normally do.”