Guardiola's Ongoing Support for Man City Amid Financial Charges

Ex-Man City coach Pep Guardiola has always stood by Manchester City during the Premier League’s ongoing investigation into the club’s alleged financial issues. He has said many times that he trusts the club’s leaders and will accept whatever the legal process decides.

In February 2023, the Premier League charged City with 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules after a long investigation.

Throughout this time, Guardiola insisted that the club acted properly and urged for a quick resolution to the case.

As reported by Planet Football on Wednesday, Guardiola was angry in May 2019 when asked if he had received any payment from the club outside official channels after City won a domestic treble. "Did I receive money for another situation, right now, today? Honestly, do you think I deserve to have this type of question?" he asked.

He added, "We are not guilty until it’s proven."

Guardiola expressed trust in the explanations given by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano. "They tell me we are fair and we absolutely follow the rules; I believe them," he said.

In February 2020, UEFA handed City a two-season Champions League ban and a €30 million fine for breaching financial rules. Guardiola again showed support for the club. "We cannot control; we support the club 100%, and what you have to do is play our games," he said.

After City appealed, Guardiola said, "The club believes it is unfair, so we are going to appeal, and we are going to wait. I trust 100% what my club have said and what they have done."

He also made it clear that he would stay with City unless the club decided otherwise. "Unless they sack me, which can happen, I will not leave," Guardiola said.

After the Court of Arbitration for Sport lifted UEFA’s ban in July 2020, Guardiola spoke about the harm he felt the allegations had done to the club. "We were damaged. The people say we cheated and were lying, and many times. The presumption of innocence wasn’t there," he said.

In May 2022, following more reports about the Premier League investigation, Guardiola explained again why he defended City. "Every single word I said in all my press conferences, even if people don’t believe me, every word I said is because I truly, truly, truly believe it," he said.

"Why defend the club and the people? Because I work with them."

He stated that he made his feelings clear to the club’s leadership. "If you lie to me, the day after I will not be here, I will be out, and you will not be my friend anymore," Guardiola said.

When the Premier League announced the 115 charges in February 2023, Guardiola felt the club had already been judged before the case ended. "The club proved they were completely innocent," he said.

"What’s happened since Monday is the same as what happened with UEFA. We have already been condemned."

He added, "We are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty."

Guardiola said he would accept the final decision if City was found to have broken the rules. "I would have loved to wait and to find out what happens, but just in case we are not innocent, we will accept what the judge and the Premier League decides," he said.

But he questioned what would happen if the club was eventually cleared. "But if the same situation with UEFA happens and we are innocent, what happens to restore or pay back our damage?" he asked.

By May 2023, Guardiola wanted the proceedings to be finished quickly. "What I would like is if the Premier League and judges could make something as soon as possible," he said.

"We would love it tomorrow. This afternoon better than tomorrow."

In November 2023, Guardiola was asked if he would think about his future if City was found guilty and relegated. "I will answer when I have the sentence," he replied.

"You are questioning as if we have been punished. And in the moment we are innocent until guilt is proved."

He also stated that his future would not depend on which division City played in. "Absolutely, I will not consider my future [if] it depends on being here [Premier League] or being in League One," Guardiola said.

As the hearing approached in August 2024, Guardiola welcomed the chance to resolve the case. "I am happy it starts soon, and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us," he said.

"Especially for the club, but for all the other Premier League clubs, like for all the people that don’t wait for the sentence."

In September 2024, he repeated his faith in the independent process. "An independent panel will decide, and I am looking forward to the decision," Guardiola said.

"Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see."

In November 2024, Guardiola said he still trusted the club while the case was unresolved. "Because you believe in your club and the people there. I believe what they say and the reasons why. I said, ‘OK, let’s see.’"

Despite all the talk, Guardiola said he preferred to focus on his job rather than the ongoing proceedings. "I don’t live with it. I live with the four defeats, what I have to do. There are lawyers on both sides. I don’t think about it," he said.

In May 2026, after announcing his decision to leave as Manchester City manager, Guardiola again showed trust in the club’s leadership. "I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened," he said.

Over the years of the investigation, Guardiola’s position stayed the same: he trusted Manchester City’s leaders, believed the club should be seen as innocent until a verdict was reached, and said he would accept the outcome of the independent process.