After a jam-packed few weeks, Manchester City faces their seventh game in just 22 days as they prepare for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Fulham. It’s the final game before the October international break, and Pep Guardiola’s side will be eager to end this hectic period with a victory at the Etihad Stadium.
City has enjoyed an unbeaten start to both the Premier League and Champions League campaigns and is also through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup. Despite their success on the pitch, City currently sits one point behind league leaders Liverpool, making tomorrow’s game crucial to keep the pressure on.
Off the field, however, there’s plenty of drama as well. Pep Guardiola’s contract is in its final year, leaving fans anxiously awaiting an update on whether the beloved manager will extend his stay. Meanwhile, the club’s ongoing battle with the Premier League over 115 FFP charges remains unresolved, leaving the fanbase nervously watching for developments.
Here’s a roundup of the latest Manchester City headlines for Friday, October 4:
Pep’s Update on His Future
Manchester City fans are eager to learn if Pep Guardiola will stay at the club beyond this season, with supporters planning to display a banner reading “Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay” at the weekend’s match, written in his native Catalan. Though Guardiola appreciated the gesture, he didn’t give a direct answer, offering instead to repay the fans for the cost of the banner.
Despite the uncertainty, Guardiola dropped hints about his future plans, emphasizing his deep connection with the club and reiterating his trust in City’s hierarchy, particularly as the club deals with its FFP charges. “I fell in love [with the fans] since the first day here. What’s going to happen is going to happen,” he stated. “I am part of this club. It is deep inside my bones.”
CFG’s £210m Capital Move
City Football Group (CFG), owners of Manchester City, has raised £210 million by issuing new preference shares, further boosting the financial muscle behind the club. According to filings made with Companies House, CFG issued nearly 24 million preference shares at a price of £8.83 each, raising the total number of shares to 620 million and valuing the group at an estimated £5.5 billion.
While the identity of the investor wasn’t disclosed, there are two main groups currently holding preference shares in CFG: the Abu Dhabi Investment Group and Silver Lake Capital, an American private equity firm. Issuing preference shares is a common strategy for raising capital without diluting control, as preference shareholders receive dividends ahead of common shareholders. This move is seen as a potential vote of confidence in CFG and Manchester City’s future.
Pep Slams FIFA’s New Club World Cup Rule
Pep Guardiola is not happy with FIFA’s latest rules ahead of the expanded 2025 Club World Cup, a competition that will include Manchester City as one of the star attractions. FIFA’s new regulations require clubs to field their “strongest” teams, ensuring that top players like Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, and Harry Kane participate in the tournament.
Guardiola, however, is unimpressed. He raised a key question: “What makes a ‘strongest’ team?” The City boss argued that form, fitness, and injuries play a huge role in deciding the lineup, and he won’t let FIFA dictate who should be on the pitch. “I don’t understand for the selection which player is stronger than the other one. Strong means form? Maybe the strongest player for them is in a really bad condition… and I’m going to play other ones,” he said. Guardiola also voiced concerns about the scheduling, which could extend the season by an extra month, further taxing the players.
Despite the frustrations, Guardiola hinted that he intends to manage City in the Club World Cup, even though his contract is set to expire mid-season. Nonetheless, his strong words signal that he won’t let anyone else dictate his squad choices, not even FIFA.
