Football Presse

Pep Guardiola sends message of support to Man City

·By Paul Vegas
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Pep Guardiola sends message of support to Man City

Manchester City/X.com

Pep Guardiola has publicly thrown his support behind Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict on 114 of 115 alleged Premier League financial rule breaches.

The former Manchester City manager, who stepped down at the end of last season after a decade in charge, addressed supporters directly in a message posted on social media.

“I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola wrote.

“I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.”

Guardiola then made clear that he regarded the situation as something the club and its supporters would face collectively.

“Let me be clear: we will get through this together,” he wrote, before adding: “I love you all.”

The message was accompanied by a photograph of Guardiola with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and others.

It represents Guardiola’s first public statement on the situation surrounding his former club since the guilty findings emerged.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of 114 of the 115 charges brought against the club, with the allegations largely relating to the period between 2009 and 2018.

The potential consequences have yet to be established.

Reports in the English media have discussed possible sporting sanctions including a points deduction, a transfer ban or relegation, although the eventual punishment remains unresolved.

Guardiola’s intervention comes after he spent 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, overseeing the most successful period in Manchester City’s history.

He led the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

His tenure also transformed City into a dominant force in English football, with the club winning six of the 10 Premier League titles available during his time in charge.

Guardiola left his position at the end of last season but has remained closely associated with the club and its supporters.

His latest message goes beyond a general expression of goodwill, explicitly placing himself alongside the club’s ownership, leadership, players, staff and supporters as they face the consequences of the commission’s findings.

The reference to chairman Ferran Soriano and the club’s owner also underlines the breadth of Guardiola’s support.

For City supporters, the former manager remains one of the central figures of the club’s modern history.

His decade-long reign delivered unprecedented domestic success and culminated in the Champions League victory that had eluded the club for so long.

Now, despite having left the dugout, Guardiola has made clear that his connection with Manchester City has not ended.

“I am here; more than ever,” he told supporters.

His message comes at a moment when the club faces an uncertain period away from the pitch, but Guardiola’s position is unequivocal: he remains behind Manchester City and its supporters.