Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has made it clear he won’t walk away if the club is found guilty of the 115 alleged breaches of Premier League regulations dating back to 2009.
With the hearing into these serious charges set to commence next month, Guardiola has firmly stated his commitment to the club regardless of the outcome. The Premier League’s investigation, which began four years ago, has resulted in accusations that City violated rules from as far back as the 2009/10 season. The club, however, vehemently denies these charges and asserts they possess a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” to prove their innocence.
According to The Times, the hearing is slated to begin in September unless unforeseen legal delays occur. If the most severe charges are upheld, City could face relegation from the Premier League.
Despite the gravity of the situation, Guardiola, who is in the final year of his contract, has declared that he is more inclined to stay if the team faces relegation than if they were still in the Champions League. “Currently, we are innocent until proven guilty,” Guardiola commented last year. “People want results, and I understand that. I’ll wait for the verdict and then we can discuss further.”
When questioned about the comparison between City’s case and Everton’s 10-point deduction for breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Guardiola emphasized the differences. “People ask why City isn’t punished like Everton was. It’s two different situations,” he explained. “The complexity of our case with 115 alleged breaches is much greater. We’ll have to wait for the legal proceedings to unfold and the final verdict before making further judgments.”
In summary, Guardiola’s commitment remains steadfast as the club navigates through this challenging period, underlining his dedication regardless of the potential outcomes.
