Former Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola repeatedly defended the club during the Premier League’s long-running investigation into alleged financial-rule breaches, maintaining that he trusted the club’s leadership and would accept the outcome of the independent process.

The Premier League charged Manchester City in February 2023 following a four-year investigation into alleged breaches covering the period from the 2009/10 season to 2017/18. On September 29, 2026, the Premier League announced that an independent commission had found City guilty of all charges relating to serious financial breaches over the nine-season period, as well as three of four alleged failures to cooperate with the investigation. City has denied wrongdoing and has the right to appeal.

Guardiola, who left Manchester City at the end of the 2025/26 season after a decade in charge, had consistently said he believed the club’s leadership and its account of the allegations.

‘We are not guilty until it’s proven’

In May 2019, when asked about allegations concerning payments from Manchester City outside official channels, Guardiola rejected the suggestion and stressed the principle of presumed innocence.

“We are not guilty until it’s proven,” he said.

He also said he trusted the explanations given to him by City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and then-chief executive Ferran Soriano.

“They tell me we are fair and we absolutely follow the rules; I believe them,” Guardiola said.

‘We support the club 100%’

In February 2020, after UEFA imposed a two-season Champions League ban and a €30 million fine on City over alleged financial-rule breaches, Guardiola said he remained behind the club.

“We cannot control; we support the club 100%,” he said.

After City appealed, he added that he trusted the club’s position and its legal challenge.

“I trust 100% what my club have said and what they have done,” Guardiola said.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport subsequently overturned UEFA’s Champions League ban in July 2020, while reducing the fine to €10 million for failing to cooperate with the investigation. Guardiola later said the allegations had damaged the club’s reputation.

‘Every word I said… I truly believe’

In May 2022, as the Premier League investigation continued, Guardiola explained why he remained publicly supportive of Manchester City.

“Every single word I said in all my press conferences, even if people don’t believe me, every word I said is because I truly, truly, truly believe it,” he said.

He added that he would leave if he discovered the club had lied to him.

“If you lie to me, the day after I will not be here,” Guardiola said.

After the 115 charges were announced

When the Premier League formally referred the case to an independent commission in February 2023, Guardiola said he believed City had already been judged publicly.

“The club proved they were completely innocent,” he said.

“What’s happened since Monday is the same as what happened with UEFA. We have already been condemned.”

He also stressed the principle that a person or organisation should be considered innocent until guilt is established.

Guardiola nevertheless said he would accept the commission’s eventual decision if City were found to have breached the rules.

“I would have loved to wait and to find out what happens, but just in case we are not innocent, we will accept what the judge and the Premier League decides,” he said.

Calls for a quick resolution

By May 2023, Guardiola was openly calling for the case to be concluded.

“What I would like is if the Premier League and judges could make something as soon as possible,” he said.

“We would love it tomorrow. This afternoon better than tomorrow.”

Would relegation affect his future?

In November 2023, Guardiola was asked whether he would reconsider his position if Manchester City were found guilty and relegated.

“I will answer when I have the sentence,” he replied.

He said his decision would not depend on the division in which City played.

“Absolutely, I will not consider my future [if] it depends on being here [Premier League] or being in League One,” Guardiola said.

As the hearing approached

In August 2024, as the independent hearing was about to begin, Guardiola welcomed the prospect of the case finally moving towards a resolution.

“I am happy it starts soon, and hopefully it finishes soon for the benefit of all of us,” he said.

He added that the uncertainty affected not only City but other Premier League clubs and supporters waiting for a decision.

In September 2024, he reiterated his confidence in the independent process.

“An independent panel will decide, and I am looking forward to the decision,” Guardiola said.

“Everybody is innocent until guilt is proven. So we’ll see.”

‘I don’t live with it’

In November 2024, Guardiola said he continued to trust the people running Manchester City while the case remained unresolved.

“Because you believe in your club and the people there. I believe what they say and the reasons why,” he said.

He also said he preferred to concentrate on football rather than the legal proceedings.

“I don’t live with it. I live with the four defeats, what I have to do. There are lawyers on both sides. I don’t think about it,” Guardiola said.

His final position before leaving City

In May 2026, shortly before leaving Manchester City, Guardiola again said he trusted the club’s leadership.

“I trust them. I spoke with them and trust how they behave and how they did. What happened, happened,” he said.

Guardiola’s comments over the years therefore followed a broadly consistent position: he said he trusted Manchester City’s leadership, maintained that the club should be presumed innocent until the case was decided, called for the proceedings to be resolved quickly and said he would accept the outcome of the independent process.

That process reached a significant stage on September 29, 2026, when the Premier League announced that the independent commission had found City guilty of the financial charges. The club has until October 2 to appeal the findings, while any sanctions will be determined in a separate process.