Pep Guardiola has publicly reaffirmed his loyalty to Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict regarding breaches of Premier League financial regulations spanning nine years. In a message shared on social media, the former manager, who secured 20 trophies during his decade-long tenure, stated, “We will get through this together.” He emphasized his continued commitment to the ownership, chairman, staff, and supporters, declaring, “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.” 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. 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.
City, which maintains its innocence, is preparing to lodge an appeal against the decision before the upcoming Friday deadline. Guardiola, 55, had frequently defended the club throughout the investigation, which originated from charges first filed in February 2023. During his time in charge, he noted that he spoke with the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership and maintained full faith in their conduct. Although he departed the club this past summer, Guardiola remains associated with the City Football Group as a global ambassador, providing technical advice and working on various collaborative projects. With his first two seasons falling within the period investigated by the independent commission, guardiola left City in the summer after a trophy-laden decade in charge. According to 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, In May. “I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did.”.
The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from within the club’s history. Former chairman David Bernstein, who served between 1998 and 2003, described the situation as “beyond awful” and “absolutely terrible.” Bernstein argued that the club’s board of directors, including the chief executive, should stand down immediately. He stated, “I don’t think the present management can credibly continue,” suggesting that in a public company, directors would be required to resign or face suspension pending the final outcome of the legal process. “I want to raise another question, and that is the position of the board of directors.
Amid the controversy, Manchester City Women’s head coach Andrée Jeglertz emphasized that his squad is maintaining a “business as usual” approach. As the team prepares to host Real Madrid in the Women’s Champions League on Thursday, Jeglertz confirmed he shares the club’s stance. “Definitely,” he responded when asked if he would back the organization despite the verdict. “I’m working [at] this club now, and that’s definitely what I’m hired for, for sure.”
The Swedish manager, whose side captured the Women’s Super League title last season, declined to comment on whether the women’s team had received internal assurances regarding the impact of the verdict. He maintained that the players remain focused entirely on their upcoming fixtures, noting, “We haven’t changed anything, we just keep on doing everything we normally do.”
