ไทย
English
中國人
Pep Guardiola continues to stand firmly behind Manchester City following the club's guilty ruling for violating Premier League financial regulations.
Guardiola departed as manager after a decade with City at the close of last season. He offered consistent public backing for the club throughout the Premier League's investigation and independent panel proceedings. The Spaniard also retains a strong working relationship with the club as a global ambassador for the broader City Football Group parent organization.
Guardiola has not attended a City fixture this season, but BBC Sport reported that is expected to change next week when back-to-back reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain travel to the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola is anticipated to be present as a spectator, supporting his former club alongside the 50,000–60,000 or so other fans in attendance.
In what will be City's first home game since the verdict and the Premier League's statement referencing "sham" contracts and nearly a decade of sustained financial misconduct—which the club continues to vehemently deny—it represents a notable display of solidarity from the former manager.
More Fallout to Man City Charges Verdict
• The Sanctions Rival Premier League Clubs Want Man City to Face
• Man City Punishment Timeline: How Long Will Appeal Take, When Will This End?
• Man City Charges: The Premier League's Multi-Year Investigation Explained
• The Potential Punishments Facing Man City for 115 Premier League Charges
It remains to be seen whether he will watch from the sidelines quietly or be prominently showcased in the spotlight.
When the verdict was officially released last week, Guardiola turned to social media to make his stance unmistakably clear. "I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever," he wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of himself with long-standing club chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
"I am, always have been, always will be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."
As he was preparing for his final match as manager in May, Guardiola had said of the club and those in leadership above him: "I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened."
Why Guardiola Has to Maintain Man City Support
The majority of the charges related to a period before Guardiola's appointment in 2016, with the earliest allegation of financial misconduct tracing back to the 2009–10 season. Yet the Spaniard ultimately became the primary beneficiary, leading a lavishly assembled squad that became the first in English football history to accumulate 100 points in a single season.
There is no indication that Guardiola, his coaching staff, or players acted improperly, as they went about their day-to-day responsibilities on the training ground and the pitch. However, their achievements—even those from seasons beyond the 2009–2018 window, including an unprecedented four consecutive titles—cannot be divorced from what was occurring behind closed doors, as the financial conduct was what made all of it possible.
The manner in which City conducted their business, in breach of Premier League rules through "sham" contracts that artificially inflated revenue and boosted spending capacity, laid the foundation upon which Guardiola built his dynasty.
For him to stray from anything short of full public support would be tantamount to acknowledging that an asterisk hangs over everything he accomplished.