Manchester City's former manager, Pep Guardiola, is expected to attend the club's Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain next week. This will mark his first return to Etihad Stadium since leaving the club at the end of last season after a decade as manager. Guardiola had previously expressed his support for the club's owners and leadership after they were found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations.
An independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of all charges relating to breaches of the Premier League's financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club was accused of falsely inflating commercial revenues by £830m through "sham" contracts. Despite the verdict, City has denied any wrongdoing and lodged an appeal against the findings. Guardiola had backed City's owners and leadership, stating he will "always" be behind the club.
During his decade in charge of City, Guardiola led the club to six Premier League titles, including a record four in a row from 2020-21, as well as the Champions League, three FA Cups, and five League Cups. Prior to his departure, Guardiola spoke about the charges against City in November 2024 and said he "will be here" even if the club were relegated. His attendance at the PSG match will be a significant moment for the club.
Manchester City returns to action after the three-week international break against Liverpool on Sunday. The match against PSG on Wednesday, 14 October, will be a crucial test for Enzo Maresca's side. Guardiola's presence at the Etihad Stadium will likely be a boost to the team, despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club's financial regulations breaches.
The Premier League's report stated that Manchester City had breached financial regulations, and the club's owners have been accused of using "sham" contracts to inflate commercial revenues. City's CEO has been defiant in the face of the charges, stating that the club will prove its innocence. The appeal against the findings is ongoing, and the club's future remains uncertain.
Guardiola's support for City's owners and leadership has been unwavering, and he has stated that he will "always" be behind the club. His attendance at the PSG match will be seen as a show of solidarity with the team and the club's owners. The match against PSG will be a significant test for Maresca's side, and Guardiola's presence will likely add to the excitement.
The match against PSG on Wednesday, 14 October, will be a crucial moment for Manchester City in the Champions League. Guardiola's attendance will be a significant moment for the club, and it will be interesting to see how the team performs in the match. The ongoing uncertainty surrounding the club's financial regulations breaches will likely continue to be a major talking point in the coming weeks.
Key points
- Pep Guardiola is set to attend Manchester City's Champions League tie against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
- Manchester City was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons.
- Guardiola has expressed his support for City's owners and leadership, stating he will "always" be behind the club.
