Pep Guardiola set to make emotional Man City return after Premier League's guilty verdict
Pep Guardiola is expected to return to Manchester City next week for their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, the club's first home fixture since an independent commission found them guilty of most of the Premier League's 115 charges. The expected appearance would be Guardiola's first at the Etihad Stadium since leaving City at the end of last season, bringing his decade-long spell as manager to a close.
The commission found City guilty of charges relating to financial regulations between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. They continue to deny wrongdoing and have appealed the findings.
Stories Videos Your Say The Premier League report said City had falsely inflated commercial revenues by £830million through "sham" contracts. City's appeal means the findings remain disputed, however, while no sanctions have been announced.
Guardiola, 55, publicly reaffirmed his support for the club after the verdict. The Spaniard, who won six Premier League titles with City, said he would "always" stand by its owners and leadership.
Pep Guardiola is expected to return to Manchester City next week for their Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain, the club's first home fixture since an independent commission found them guilty of most of the Premier League's 115 charges "I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever," he said. "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.
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Guardiola is expected to watch that European tie from the stands at the Etihad, where he enjoyed a trophy-laden decade before departing at the end of last season. Pep Guardiola won six Premier League titles with Manchester City during his time in charge at the Etihad Stadium |PA Under his management, City won six Premier League titles, including a record four in a row from 2020-21.
They also lifted the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups. Guardiola previously addressed the charges in November 2024, saying he would stay even if City were relegated.
His latest message came after the verdict, as the club began preparing for the legal challenge and the next stage of its season, having won all of their matches so far barring the Community Shield.