Pep Guardiola has suggested a verdict in Manchester City's '115 charges' trial could be delivered before the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season
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Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Juventus and Manchester City at Juventus Stadium on December 11, 2024
Pep Guardiola during Manchester City's clash against Juventus(Image: Photo by Francesco Scaccianoce - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has suggested that a verdict on Manchester City's alleged financial misconduct, involving 115 charges, could arrive as soon as February or March. This development comes following the hearing's conclusion on December 6 following a three-month-long trial in London.
Manchester City stood firm against all accusations of financial irregularities supposedly committed between 2009 and 2018. Despite the number of charges amounting to 130, the Premier League champions have consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Throughout the trial, the potential ramifications loomed over Guardiola and his squad. The various possible outcomes could include loss of titles, hefty fines, bans on transfers, deduction of points, or the most extreme scenario – relegation.
As deliberations concluded recently, an independent committee must now evaluate each charge before delivering specific rulings. There hasn't been an official timeline disclosed for this process.
Guardiola, who typically remains tight-lipped about such matters, indicated during his pre-match press conference for the Aston Villa game that clarity on the matter may be just around the corner, making him the most direct source of this estimated timeframe yet.
When quizzed about whether the uncertainty might deter prospective January signings, as quoted by The Guardian, he responded: "I don't know. It's going to happen in winter time. I don't know what's going to happen. I know the people are expecting that but I don't know. In February, March, [maybe] will be the sentence."
This would mark a quicker turnaround than many anticipated, with initial talks before the trial began hinting that a verdict might not come until after the 2024/25 Premier League season ends. Regardless of the result, it is reported that the losing party is likely to appeal, potentially prolonging the issue.
Until a final decision is reached, Guardiola will be eager to narrow Liverpool's advantage at the top of the Premier League table. Manchester City, who recently dropped to fifth place, are nine points behind Arne Slot's side.
"If you fall down six times, you have to stand up seven. There’s not an alternative," said Guardiola at his press conference on Friday. "I am fine. I am a normal person.
"When it is going well I am better, when it is not going well professionally we are more concerned about what we have to do. We have to start again but we don’t know what will happen [at Villa Park]. We have to try it again and sooner or later it will turn around."