Pep Guardiola has backed Manchester City after the club was found guilty of 114 breaches of the Premier League’s financial rules.
Guardiola left City at the end of last season after 10 years as manager. He broke his silence on the verdict in a post on his official Instagram page.
“I want every single Man City fan to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters,” Guardiola wrote.
“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
The Premier League found City guilty of financial reporting and commercial revenue breaches between 2009 and 2018.
The report said the club inflated commercial revenue and cut costs by about £900m, while also giving false accounts and hiding its real financial position.
City has denied the allegations and plans to appeal the verdict.
Guardiola had earlier backed the club before leaving in May, saying: “I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened.”
He also said: “I believe what they say to me and the reasons why. I said, ‘Okay, let’s see.’ I cannot say any more yet because we’re awaiting the sentence,”
On calls for relegation, he said: “I read something about the situation and how we need to be relegated immediately. Seventy-five per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes,”
City chiefs Ferran Soriano and Khaldoon Al Mubarak have also told supporters they remain confident of overturning the findings on appeal.
City was charged in February 2023, with the hearing lasting 42 days in late 2024.
