Pep Guardiola has broken his silence after Manchester City was found guilty of 114 of the 115 Premier League charges related to serious breaches of financial regulations between 2009 and 2018
Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City
Pep Guardiola has defended Manchester City(Image: Getty Images)
Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has spoken out following Manchester City's guilty verdict — resolutely declaring he stands "behind my club."
An independent commission found City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges leveled against the club for serious violations of the Premier League's financial rules between 2009 and 2018. Nevertheless, City maintains its innocence and intends to challenge the decision.
And Guardiola has thrown his support behind his former club: "I want every single @ManCity fan 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."
City has responded to Guardiola's declaration by reposting it on the club's social media channels.
On Tuesday, Richard Masters, the Premier League's chief executive, declared: "The core decision establishes the facts of what happened at Manchester City during this period.
"It details how the club systematically broke Premier League Rules for nearly a decade. It also vindicates the Premier League’s decision to pursue this case against Manchester City.
Manchester City has been found guilty
Manchester City has been found guilty(Image: Getty Images)
"While the process to date has been both long and difficult, the League has remained determined that the facts be established independently.
"It is a key responsibility of the Premier League to ensure that the Rules, approved by the clubs themselves, are upheld to protect the integrity of the competition. It is paramount that the League remains competitive and fair for all clubs and for the fans.
"We take that role extremely seriously. This disciplinary case, and this decision, are the most significant in Premier League history. There are elements of the case that remain to be decided, including, importantly, what sanction must follow for these breaches.
"Now we have the Commission’s decision, we are committed to moving swiftly through the remainder of the process, to provide certainty for the League, our clubs and fans."
City also released a statement. It read: "Manchester City FC is both disappointed and surprised by the opinion of the Premier League Commission, that has been published today.
"The Club is innocent of the accusations made by the Premier League and a comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence exists in support of all of its positions, relating to this case. The Club will therefore be relentless, and where necessary proactive, in any and all appropriate regulatory and legal forums.
"The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements uncompleted. Manchester City FC will now pursue the appeal avenues open to it, on the basis that the opinion contains clear material errors, of law, principle and fact, and is unsafe.
"The Club has diligently respected due process for eight years on the basis that the Premier League Board and Executive would behave as an independent, impartial and fair-minded regulator, free from partisan influence. The Club is obviously restricted in what it can say further until all future proceedings are complete."