Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has consistently defended the club throughout the Premier League's long-running investigation into the club's alleged financial breaches. The Premier League charged City with 115 alleged breaches of its financial rules in February 2023, following a lengthy investigation. Guardiola has maintained that the club had acted properly and repeatedly called for the case to be resolved as quickly as possible.
Throughout the process, Guardiola has expressed his trust in the club's leadership, including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano. In May 2019, after Manchester City completed a domestic treble, Guardiola reacted angrily when asked whether he had received an alleged payment from the club outside official channels. He insisted that he trusted the explanations provided by the club's leadership and believed they followed the rules.
Guardiola's defense of the club has been consistent over the years. In February 2020, after UEFA imposed a two-season Champions League ban and a €30 million fine on City over financial-rule breaches, Guardiola again backed the club. He said the club believed it was unfair and would appeal, adding that he trusted 100% what the club had said and done. Following City's appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport overturned UEFA's ban in July 2020.
Guardiola has also spoken about the damage the allegations had caused the club. He criticised the presumption of guilt and said many people believed the club had cheated and were lying. In May 2022, after fresh reports about the Premier League investigation, Guardiola explained why he continued to defend City. He said every word he said in his press conferences was because he truly believed it and that he defended the club and its people because he worked with them.
When the Premier League announced the 115 charges in February 2023, Guardiola said the club had already been judged before the case was concluded. He added that the club would accept the eventual decision if City were found to have breached the rules. Guardiola also questioned what would happen to the club if it was eventually cleared, asking if there would be any attempt to restore or pay back the damage caused.
As the hearing approached in August 2024, Guardiola welcomed the opportunity for the case to be resolved. He said he was happy it would start soon and hopefully finish soon for the benefit of all parties. In September 2024, he reiterated his confidence in the independent process, saying an independent panel would decide and that everybody was innocent until guilt was proven.
In May 2026, after announcing his decision to step down as Manchester City manager, Guardiola again reiterated his faith in the club's leadership. He said he trusted them and spoke with them, trusting how they behaved and what they did. Across the years of the investigation, Guardiola's public position remained consistent: he trusted Manchester City's leadership, maintained that the club should be presumed innocent until a verdict was reached, and said he would accept the outcome of the independent process.
Key points
- Guardiola has consistently defended Manchester City throughout the Premier League's investigation into 115 alleged financial breaches.
- Guardiola trusts the club's leadership and maintains that the club should be presumed innocent until a verdict is reached.
- The investigation into Manchester City's alleged financial breaches has been ongoing since February 2023.
