Pep Guardiola has launched an extraordinary defence of Manchester City, insisting he is “more than ever” behind the club’s owners after they were found to have broken multiple financial rules.
On Tuesday, the Premier League confirmed City had been found guilty of all charges relating to breaches of financial regulations between 2009/10 and 2017/18, and the majority of charges relating to a failure to co-operate with the investigation.
A damning statement that concluded the probe by an independent commission highlighted a series of “sham contracts” set up by the club to artificially inflate revenue and reduce costs via a ‘disguised funding scheme’ to the scale of over £900million.
That enabled City to circumnavigate rules and spend lavishly in the transfer market with Guardiola able to bolster his squad with the likes of John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan and Leroy Sane.
Those players went on to win multiple trophies at the Etihad with Guardiola eventually standing down at the end of last season having claimed six Premier League crowns, three FA Cup trophies and the 2023 Champions League title.
City have repeatedly protested their innocence and intend to appeal with Guardiola also speaking up in defence of the club’s owners, the City Football Group Limited spearheaded by Abu Dhabi royal family member Sheikh Mansour and run by Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Ferran Soriano.
Guardiola remained staunch in his defence of the club on Wednesday with a post on Instagram that read: “I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran, the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters.
“Let me be clear: we will get through this together.
“I love you all.” 🩵
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