Pep committed to City despite Prem charges risk

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he is committed to the club whatever the outcome of their outstanding legal case with the Premier League over alleged financial breaches.

Guardiola’s two-year contract extension was announced on Thursday after months of speculation that he could leave the club at the end of his old deal, which was set to expire at the end of the season.

Speaking ahead of his team’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur, the Catalan coach said he would stay at the team even if the independent panel deems the club guilty and they are relegated.

“I said six months ago, when all the clubs accused us to have done something wrong, what happened if we are relegated — I will be here,” he said at the news conference.

“Next year, if we are in the Conference we will come up to the Premier League. I knew it then, I feel it now.”

The Premier League charged City on 115 counts of financial regulations in February 2023 after initially opening an investigation five years earlier.

The charges related to a 14-season period from 2009-10 onwards and comprise 54 counts of failing to provide accurate information, 14 counts of failing to provide accurate details for player and manager payments, seven counts of breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR), five counts of failing to comply with UEFA regulations including financial fair play (FFP) and 35 counts of failing to cooperate with Premier League investigations from 2018 onwards.

City strongly deny all the charges, and claimed in a statement released in response to the initial charges that they have “irrefutable evidence” to support their position and “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

The hearing started in September. On Friday, the Premier League announced changes to its Associated Party Transaction (APT) rules after a vote from clubs, a move which followed a separate legal challenge from City.

Guardiola also bullishly addressed is team’s losing streak at the news conference. City have lost their last four games in all competitions, something the former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach has never experienced before.

“When you are here for nine years, with a long time at one club, you live all the scenarios, all the situations,” he said.

“You’re able to lose four games in a row, but at the same time you’re able to win four Premier Leagues in a row. The difference is that most of the teams are able to lose four games in a row in different competitions but just one team won four Premier Leagues in a row.”

Man City host Spurs on Saturday with a number of players returning from injury. John Stones and Manuel Akanji have both been in full training this week, Guardiola said, with Nathan Aké set to return soon.

However, midfielder Mateo Kovacic has been ruled out for “a few weeks or a month” after sustaining a blow while playing for Croatia.