Guardiola’s long defence of Manchester City revisited after verdict

Pep Guardiola has remained closely associated with Manchester City’s financial case, despite leaving his managerial position in the summer. Last week, after the club was found guilty of deliberate financial rule-breaking over nine years, he posted a message of solidarity on social media. City are appealing, while Guardiola continues to work for City Football Group as a global ambassador.

His first public reaction came on 18 May 2019, after City defeated Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final. Asked whether he had received undeclared money from the club, Guardiola rejected the suggestion and said he trusted the chairman and chief executive, who had assured him that City followed the rules.

On 19 February 2020, after UEFA imposed a two-year European ban for Financial Fair Play breaches, Guardiola said the club had to appeal because it believed it was right. The Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned the suspension on 14 July, clearing City of the more serious allegations. In May 2022, Guardiola added that he would leave if club officials had lied to him.

After the Premier League announced 115 charges on 10 February 2023, Guardiola said City were being condemned before the case was heard, while accepting that any final ruling would have to be respected. He later criticised the delay, promised to explain the verdict publicly and said he could stay even if City were playing in League One. The hearing began in September 2024, and he was still expecting a verdict in February 2025.

When Guardiola left City on 23 May 2026, he again said he trusted the club’s leadership. He is expected to attend the Champions League meeting with Paris St-Germain next week, the first home match since the verdict was announced. His departure means he cannot fulfil his earlier pledge to manage City in a lower division, but his public support has continued.

ColdMath take

For City, Guardiola’s position offers continuity at a sensitive moment: he remains connected to the ownership group and is expected at the next home Champions League match. His earlier promise to manage the club in League One no longer applies after his departure.

The appeal remains the decisive next step, while the club faces its first home fixture since the guilty verdict under heightened scrutiny.