Ex-Man City coach Pep Guardiola has consistently defended Manchester City throughout the Premier League’s long-running investigation into the club’s alleged financial breaches, repeatedly insisting that he trusted the club’s leadership and would accept the outcome of the legal process.
The Premier League charged City with 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules in February 2023, following a lengthy investigation.
Throughout the process, Guardiola maintained that the club had acted properly and repeatedly called for the case to be resolved as quickly as possible.
As reported by Planet Football on Wednesday, in May 2019, after Manchester City completed a domestic treble, Guardiola reacted angrily when asked whether he had received an alleged payment from the club outside official channels.
“Did I receive money for another situation right now, today? Honestly, do you think I deserve to have this type of question?” he asked.
He added: “We are not guilty until it’s proven.”
Guardiola said he trusted the explanations provided by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano.
“They tell me we are fair and we absolutely follow the rules; I believe them,” he said.
In February 2020, after UEFA imposed a two-season Champions League ban and a €30 million fine on City over financial-rule breaches, Guardiola again backed the club.
“We cannot control; we support the club 100%, and what you have to do is play our games,” he said.
Following City’s appeal, Guardiola added: “The club believes it is unfair, so we are going to appeal, and we are going to wait. I trust 100% what my club has said and what they have done.”
He also insisted that he would remain at City unless the club decided otherwise.
“Unless they sack me, which can happen, I will not leave,” Guardiola said.
After the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned UEFA’s ban in July 2020, Guardiola criticised the damage he believed the allegations had caused the club.
“We were damaged. The people say we cheated and were lying—and many times. The presumption of innocence wasn’t there,” he said.
In May 2022, after fresh reports about the Premier League investigation, Guardiola again explained why he continued to defend City.
“Every single word I said in all my press conferences, even if people don’t believe me, every word I said is because I truly, truly, truly believe it,” he said.
“Why defend the club and the people? Because I work with them.”
He added that he had made his position clear to the club’s leadership.
“If you lie to me, the day after I will not be here, I will be out, and you will not be my friend anymore,” Guardiola said.
When the Premier League announced the 115 charges in February 2023, Guardiola said the club had already been judged before the case was concluded.
“The club proved they were completely innocent,” he said.
“What’s happened since Monday is the same as what happened with UEFA. We have already been condemned.”
He added, “We are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”
Guardiola said he would accept the eventual decision if City were found to have breached the rules.
“I would have loved to wait and to find out what happens, but just in case we are not innocent, we will accept what the judge and the Premier League decide,” he said.
However, he questioned what would happen to the club if it was eventually cleared.
“But if the same situation with UEFA happens and we are innocent, what happens to restore or pay back our damage?” he asked.
By May 2023, Guardiola was calling for the proceedings to be completed as quickly as possible.
“What I would like is if the Premier League and judges could make something as soon as possible,” he said.
“We would love it tomorrow. This afternoon is better than tomorrow.”
In November 2023, Guardiola was asked whether he would consider his future if City were found guilty and relegated.
“I will answer when I have the sentence,” he replied.
“You are questioning as if we have been punished. And in the moment we are innocent until guilt is proved.”
He also said his future would not depend on which division City played in.
