Pep Guardiola will be back at Manchester City just days after facing Liverpool following the club being found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it by the Premier League
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 24: Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola waves to the fans during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Aston Villa at Etihad Stadium on May 24, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola will return to Manchester City after the club's game against Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola will return to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to publicly demonstrate his support for Manchester City after the club was found guilty of the majority of the 115 charges handed down by the Premier League.
The Catalan departed last summer after a decade at the helm of City but will be present as the Etihad club faces Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, just a few days after facing Liverpool at Anfield.
Guardiola had previously stated upon leaving City that he would comment once a verdict was delivered 'if he could be found' - but took to social media the day after the Premier League confirmed the findings of the independent commission.
He wrote: "I want every single 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 [Soriano, CEO], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all."
The former City manager had intended to remain out of the spotlight to give his successor Enzo Maresca the chance to bed in at the club. Nevertheless, Guardiola - whose own reputation has come under scrutiny since the club's guilt was established by a three-person panel - wishes to demonstrate public solidarity with his former employers and will therefore attend the first match at the Etihad since the announcement emerged.
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of Manchester City hold the Premier League title trophy following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola has already voiced his support for Manchester City's owners
City has maintained its assertion of innocence since the release of a scathing 40-page judgement from the independent commission. Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has issued an open letter to supporters and Ferran Soriano dispatched a video message to all personnel, with an appeal lodged last week, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Despite the club continuing to maintain its innocence, the debate rages around potential punishments, with Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher insisting any sanctions should be handed down over multiple years.
"It has to be done this season, because Man City need to be affected for next season.
Content Image
Content Image
"I know the word at the moment is sham; it’ll almost make the Premier League of this season, the title to be won would be a sham, if Man City went on to win that league with what we know has gone on.
"So it has to be done this season, and I think the punishment, whatever it should be, I don’t think it can be a one-off punishment for one season, because this has gone on for years and years, so I think the punishment should go on for years and years."
Liverpool will provide City with its first opponent following the guilty verdict, with the Etihad club set for a frosty reception at Anfield. The Reds are are one of the clubs to have missed out on a title during the nine-year period in which its rival is found to have breached financial rules.