Pep Guardiola's responses to Manchester City's financial charges
Pep Guardiola posted on social media last week offering support after Manchester City were found guilty of deliberate financial rule-breaking over nine years, writing: "Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."
Guardiola left Manchester City in the summer but his intervention surprised some because he is no longer the club's manager; he joined City in 2016, most of the way through the 2009-18 period the charges relate to. During his time in Manchester he was outspoken on issues including Catalan independence and Israel's military offensive in Gaza, while at other times he declined to answer questions on human rights in the United Arab Emirates and did not address the UAE's alleged role in the conflict in Sudan. The UAE has strongly rejected the allegations described in reports.
At a media conference on 18 May 2019, following a 6-0 victory over Watford in the FA Cup final, Guardiola rejected suggestions he had received undeclared payments, saying: "Do you know the question you're asking me? 'Did I receive money for another situation, right now, today? Honestly, do you think I deserve to have this type of question, the day we won the treble... did I receive money? Are you accusing me of receiving money?' 'I listen to my chairman and my CEO, and I trust them. They tell me we are fair and we absolutely follow the rules. I believe them.'" Around the same period, former manager Roberto Mancini said: "It's not an issue that concerns me. It's nothing new because this matter has been discussed for the last four or five years. 'Manchester City has not been found guilty, and the alleged double contract is not my concern. It's their issue, not mine.'"
After UEFA found City guilty of breaching Financial Fair Play rules and banned them from European competition for two years, Guardiola responded on 19 February 2020: "We appeal. When someone believes they are right, they have to fight. The club has to fight and I trust the club 100% what they have done and they have explained to me. 'This situation is not finished and we will wait. But until it is resolved you have to play and play, and that is what is going to happen.'" When the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the UEFA suspension on 14 July 2020 he said: "We were damaged. The people say we cheated and were lying - and many times. The presumption of innocence wasn't there."
On 7 May 2022 Guardiola explained his defence of the club as rooted in personal experience of working with its leaders: "Why did I defend the club and the people? It's because I work with them. 'When they are accused of something, I ask them: 'Tell me about that.' They explain and I believe them. 'I said to them: 'If you lie to me, the day after I am not here. I will be out and I will not be your friend any more. I put my faith in you because I believe you 100% from day one and I defend the club because of that.'" He also said he would resign if the club were found to have lied to him.
Following the Premier League's announcement of 115 charges on 10 February 2023, Guardiola said: "My first thought is that we are already being condemned. I am fully convinced we will be innocent. 'Personally, I am happy we are here. We have the chance to defend [ourselves]. I think we have good lawyers. I think the Premier League, supported by 19 teams, will have good lawyers too. 'Just in case we are not innocent we will accept what the judge in the Premier League decides, but what happens if in the same situation that Uefa happened we are innocent - what happens to restore or pay back our damage?'" He later expressed frustration with the pace of the process on 23 May 2023: "We would love [the verdict] tomorrow - this afternoon better than tomorrow. 'What we won on the pitch, we don't have any doubts.'" On 24 November 2023 he pledged a media conference after any eventual verdict and said: "You are questioning like we have been punished. And in the moment, we are innocent until guilt is proved. 'I know the people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see it and after the sentence has been done we will come here and explain it. 'There is more chance [for me] to stay if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League.'"
In the lead-up to the hearing Guardiola said on 23 August 2024: "I am happy that it starts soon and hopefully it will finish soon. We will accept [the verdict], like we have always done." As the legal proceedings began on 13 and 21 September 2024 he told reporters: "I know what people are looking for. I know what they are expecting - I know it because I have read it for many years. 'Everyone is innocent until guilt is proven. It's like everyone doesn't expect us to be not just relegated, they want us to disappear off the face of the earth.'" On 7 February 2025 he anticipated: "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and sentence." When he left the club on 23 May 2026 he again expressed trust in those he had worked with: "I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened. 'If you find me, yeah, but that will be difficult.'"
City are appealing the guilty verdicts, and Guardiola remains employed by City Football Group as a global ambassador; next week he is expected to attend City's Champions League tie against Paris St-Germain, the club's first home match since the guilty verdicts were announced.
