Pep Guardiola has chosen to return to Manchester City earlier than expected to show his support following the club's guilty verdict on financial charges. The former manager will be in the stands at Etihad Stadium for this evening's Champions League clash against Paris Saint-Germain.
The expectation had been that Guardiola would stay away for some time, but after the Premier League confirmed that the independent panel had found City in breach of 114 regulations, he issued a message of support on social media.
Guardiola's message of support
He said: "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 continue to vehemently deny any wrongdoing and formally lodged an appeal against the outcome in early October. That verdict is expected to be known in early 2026, though City will continue playing in the meantime.
Return to Etihad
Guardiola flew into Manchester on Wednesday ahead of watching the action from the directors' box alongside chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, according to The Sun. Discussions with the latter and CEO Ferran Soriano are expected to take place beforehand.
It has also been claimed that Guardiola had no intention of returning to City so soon after leaving, but given the events that have unfolded since his departure, the 55-year-old is resolute in standing by his former club due to his conviction in their innocence.
City's first home fixture since verdict
This will be City's first home fixture since the verdict, and it arguably could not be against more fitting opposition, with the back-to-back reigning champions in town.
City defeated Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday to maintain their 100 per cent winning record, with the players rising above a hostile atmosphere at Anfield. City captain Ruben Dias was swift to acknowledge such a feat while stressing that the squad remains firmly focused.
He said: "It's a win at Anfield. In whatever circumstance, so be it now maybe earlier in the season, so be it later in the season, any time - I and we will enjoy it just as much, and we will celebrate it however it feels in the moment, and it will obviously be a show of how much it means to us."
"Yes, there's a lot of noise, and it's almost impossible to avoid seeing something - even us, being as private as we can be, and doing just our own lives. On your phone it's impossible to avoid everything."
"But I feel like we're all so very good at focussing ourselves on our job, doing it right, making the most of it, being happy every time we come to work, and our minds are very much there, and only there."
"It's the things we can control, the things we've always been doing, and enjoying so much. We have full confidence on the club, we trust the club, and we love to win!"
