Guardiola expected at City’s first home game after verdict

Pep Guardiola is expected to attend Manchester City’s Champions League match against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, 14 October. It will be the club’s first home fixture since an independent commission found City guilty of the majority of 115 Premier League charges. The game will also mark Guardiola’s first return to the Etihad Stadium since he left at the end of last season.

The commission ruled that City had breached the Premier League’s financial regulations during the 2009-10 to 2017-18 seasons. The club denies wrongdoing and has appealed findings that it falsely increased commercial revenue by £830m through contracts described in the report as sham agreements.

Guardiola, 55, has publicly backed City’s ownership and leadership after the verdict. Before facing PSG, the team will return from the international break against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday at 16:30 BST. During his decade in charge, Guardiola won six Premier League titles, including four consecutive championships from 2020-21, plus the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups.

ColdMath take

Guardiola’s appearance would give City a notable public show of continuity after the verdict and his departure. The immediate sporting test is demanding: Liverpool away comes first, followed by holders PSG at the Etihad four days later.