Manchester City fans were shocked on Friday afternoon when news broke their club had been found guilty of 114 of the 115 charges presented by the Premier League in February 2023. A City spokesperson said: "The Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements to be completed, and subject to strict confidentiality. As such Manchester City FC’s position remains consistent with the Club’s statement of February 2023."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."
Angry Response in 2019
During his decade of success, Pep Guardiola was repeatedly asked about the charges. Those questions began in 2019 after City trounced Watford 6-0 in the FA Cup final. This secured the Blues a domestic treble, but in the post-match press conference, Guardiola was asked if he had received separate payments from the club's owners, akin to those Roberto Mancini was alleged to have received.
"Do you know the question you’re asking me?" An angry Guardiola responded. "Did I receive money for another situation, right now, today? Honestly, do you think I deserve to have this type of question, the day we won the treble, did I receive money? Are you accusing me of receiving money?"
Trust in the Club's Leadership
He added: "I said yesterday, we are not guilty until it’s proven. This club makes a big step forward with the investment [we have made]. Can you do that without top players? No way. Money helps to buy the incredible players we have, yes."But [regarding the UEFA investigation] we wait, if we’re punished we accept it. But I listen to my chairman and my CEO, they give me the arguments for why we are under investigation and I trust them. They tell me we are fair and we absolutely follow the rules, I believe them. If the opponents and contenders think it’s just about the money, it is okay."
That UEFA investigation saw City initially hit with a two-year ban from UEFA competitions. However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned that ruling.
Defiance in 2023 and 2024
When news broke in 2023 that City had been charged by the Premier League, Guardiola went on the offensive again. "My first thought is we're already being condemned," he said in his press conference. "It's the same with UEFA, we were already condemned. The club proved we were completely innocent."In the end, I know fairly that what we won, we won on the pitch. We don't have any doubts."
In November 2024, Guardiola looked to ease fears about him leaving if City were found guilty. A new contract was signed and the head coach also promised he was more likely to stay if the Blues were relegated from the Premier League. "You have my interviews here that say the same, so not because now I extend the contract and pretend to be, 'Oh how nice is Pep?'" Guardiola said when asked about his loyalty to City.
"I said six months ago, one year ago when all the clubs accused us of having done something - what happened if you got relegated? I will be here. I don't know the position of the conference they're going to bring us, we're going to come up and come up, we're going to come back to the Premier League. I knew it then, I feel it now."
Final Stance
As the curtain drew on his City tenure, Guardiola was asked one final time about the charges. His stance remained the same. "I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened," he concluded.
