I am here: Pep Guardiola pledges support for Man City after guilty verdict

Pep Guardiola has pledged his support for Manchester City after the club was found guilty of financial violations. The former manager said he remains behind the club, its players and supporters following the independent panel's findings.Pep Guardiola shared his first statement since Manchester City were found guilty by the Premier League. (Image: Reuters)New Delhi,Sep 30, 2026 19:44 ISTPep Guardiola has pledged his support for Manchester City after the Premier League club was found guilty of financial violations during his time as manager.Guardiola, who spent a decade in charge of City from 2016 to 2026, made his first public comments after an independent panel published its findings on Tuesday.“I want every single Man City 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,” Guardiola wrote on his Instagram handle.“Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.” Pep Guardiola took Manchester City through the best period in their club's history. (Image: X/@PepTeam) The post was accompanied by pictures from Guardiola’s time at the club, including celebrations with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, City’s Champions League triumph and their Premier League title celebrations.GUARDIOLA’S CITY LEGACYGuardiola took charge of City in 2016 and went on to oversee the most successful period in the club’s history. Under the Spaniard, City won six Premier League titles, including four consecutive championships, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the 2023 Champions League.Guardiola left his position at the end of last season and was succeeded by former assistant Enzo Maresca.His latest message comes despite his departure from the club, with Guardiola making clear that his connection with City remains strong after a decade that saw the team establish itself as one of the leading forces in English football.CITY REJECTS FINDINGSThe Premier League case covers alleged financial wrongdoing between 2009 and 2018, including the period before Guardiola became manager.The league said commercial arrangements used by City included “sham” deals as part of schemes to inflate revenue and understate costs. The alleged financial breaches were valued at more than 900 million pounds, or about 1.19 billion US dollars.City chief executive Ferran Soriano addressed staff in a video after the findings were published and rejected the independent commission’s conclusions.Guardiola’s public response followed a day later, with the former City manager choosing to focus on his continued support for the club, its players and supporters.His message comes as City faces the consequences of the independent panel’s findings, while Guardiola’s decade-long tenure remains closely associated with the club’s unprecedented run of domestic and European success.- Ends