Manchester City have ALREADY been condemned, reveals Pep Guardiola

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Manchester City are under investigation for breaking financial rules – now Pep Guardiola has spoken about it for the first time

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola speaks to the press ahead of the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Manchester City Football Academy on February 3, 2023 in Manchester, England.
(Image credit: Tom Flathers/Manchester City FC via Getty Images)

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says his club have already been "condemned" following an investigation from the Premier League.

The Premier League charged the Citizens with over 100 breaches of its financial rules on Monday, following 2020's two-year competition ban from UEFA over Financial Fair Play breaches. 

That ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) – but now, Guardiola has said that despite the club proving their innocence in the past, the other 19 clubs in the Premier League are accusing his club of wrongdoing, now. 

Manchester City Premier League

Manchester City are under investigation from the Premier League (Image credit: Getty Images)

"The club proved they were completely innocent," Guardiola said. "What's happened since Monday is the same as what happened with UEFA. We have already been condemned.

"You have to understand that 19 teams in the Premier League are accusing us without us having the ability to defend.

"We are lucky we live in a marvellous country where everyone is innocent until proven guilty. We didn't have this opportunity, we are already sentenced. I am fully convinced we will be innocent."

Despite rumours that he could resign if City are found guilty, the Catalan said that he's more committed than ever – and even joked about bringing Paul Dickov out of retirement if the club are relegated. 

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the Premier League match between Manchester Cirt and Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 January, 2023 at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola says he won't be leaving the club (Image credit: James Gill ~ Danehouse/Getty Images)

"I am not moving from this seat, I can assure you. I want to stay more than ever," he revealed.

"We have already been in the lower divisions. We will be back there? Not a problem. We will call Paul Dickov and Mike Summerbee and we will do again.

"But they should wait. The Premier League put it there, but they should wait. We are going to defend ourselves, like we did in the UEFA situation."

More about Manchester City being charged by Premier League with breaking financial rules

After Manchester City were charged with breaking financial rules by the Premier League, one former financial advisor to City has claimed that the club must be relegated from division, if the allegations are found to be true.

Manchester City will be able to appeal sanctions to CAS, either, the body that they appealed to over their UEFA charges. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, has in the past claimed that he will step aside, should it be proven that he has been lied to by the City ownership.

Mark White
Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White is the Digital Content Editor at FourFourTwo. During his time on the brand, Mark has written three cover features on Mikel Arteta, Martin Odegaard and the Invincibles, and has written pieces on subjects ranging from Sir Bobby Robson’s time at Barcelona to the career of Robinho. An encyclopedia of football trivia and collector of shirts, he first joined the team back in 2020 as a staff writer.