Pep Guardiola has expressed his confidence that Manchester City acted appropriately as he prepares to depart before the verdicts are announced on the 115 charges alleging violations of Premier League financial regulations.
On Friday, Guardiola revealed that he will resign as City’s manager after a decade during which he secured 20 trophies, including this season’s FA Cup and EFL Cup.
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In February 2023, following a four-year investigation, Manchester City was charged and referred to an independent commission over alleged financial rule breaches occurring between 2009 and 2018.
The club vehemently denies all accusations, stating that their position is backed by a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence.”
The Premier League alleges that City failed to provide “accurate financial information that offers a true and fair representation of the club’s financial status.”
However, three years later, the outcome of the case is still pending, as the independent commission has yet to release a decision.
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When asked about his vigorous defense of the club throughout his tenure, Guardiola stated, “I trust them. I’ve spoken with them and believe in their conduct and actions. What happened, happened.”
Guardiola took the helm in 2016, and while there’s no indication he was aware of any alleged misconduct, there is a two-year overlap between his time at the Etihad Stadium and the period under scrutiny.
The former manager of Barcelona and Bayern Munich added, “A resolution will come, but nobody from the staff, particularly the players and the manager, was involved at that time.”
Guardiola, 55, will transition into an ambassadorial role for the City Football Group, to which Manchester City belongs, but he plans to take a break from coaching “for a while.”
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When asked if he would return to Manchester for a press conference once the charges are resolved, Guardiola remarked, “If you can find me, sure, but that may be challenging.”