Pep Guardiola has responded to Manchester City’s financial scandal by assuring supporters that his commitment to the club remains intact. The former manager’s message came on Wednesday after the Premier League confirmed an independent commission had found City guilty of serious breaches of its financial rules.

According to SPORTbible, Guardiola used a social media statement to back the club’s ownership, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, chief executive Ferran Soriano, players, staff and supporters. His support also extended to his successor, Enzo Maresca.

“I am here; more than ever,” Guardiola said, before urging unity: “Let me be clear: we will get through this together.”

Guardiola’s loyalty extends beyond the dugout

Guardiola’s intervention comes after his departure as City manager earlier this year. He remains connected to the club as a technical adviser and global ambassador, according to The Sun.

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The Spaniard took charge in 2016, meaning the final two seasons of the period covered by the financial findings overlapped with his tenure. His first Premier League title with City, won in 2017/18, came in the last of those seasons.

His statement offered a pledge of support without addressing the commission’s financial findings in detail. He did not set out a legal argument against the ruling or discuss a possible punishment.

Commission finds concealed finances and misleading deals

The financial case covers nine seasons, from 2009/10 to 2017/18. According to the Premier League statement reproduced by Yahoo Sports, the commission found that City used commercial arrangements that misrepresented the underlying agreements to artificially increase revenue and reduce costs by more than £900 million.

The findings went beyond the value of sponsorship deals. The commission concluded that City filed misstated accounts, concealed the true position from auditors and football regulators, and substantially exceeded Premier League and UEFA spending limits.

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The league also said the commission upheld multiple findings concerning City’s failure to cooperate with its investigation. These are the commission’s conclusions, which the club disputes, and the disciplinary process has further stages to complete.

City promises to challenge the ruling

In Manchester City’s official response, the club maintained its innocence and confirmed it would pursue the available appeal routes. City argued that the decision contained “clear material errors, of law, principle and fact” and said evidence supported its position.

Guardiola’s message follows a similar appeal for solidarity from Al Mubarak. In a letter to supporters, the chairman said the club remained confident of proving its innocence, while explaining that confidentiality limited what he could disclose.

No final sanction had been announced at the time of writing. Guardiola has made his allegiance clear, but City’s challenge to the findings and the question of punishment remain unresolved.

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