Guardiola stands by Man City after Premier League guilty verdict

Pep Guardiola has thrown his support behind Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict in the Premier League’s financial case, insisting he will remain behind the club “always”.

The commission ruled that the club had arranged “sham contracts” with several commercial partners as part of arrangements involving more than £830m in alleged secret funding.

Guardiola sends message to City supporters

Guardiola, who managed City from 2016 until his departure last summer, addressed supporters in a social media post following the verdict.

“I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever,” he wrote.

“I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, [manager] Enzo [Maresca] and you, our unique supporters.

“Let me be clear: we will get through this together.

“I love you all.”

During his time at City, Guardiola won six Premier League titles, including four consecutive league championships, as well as the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss had previously insisted he would remain at City even if the club were relegated as a punishment for the charges.

Richards and Carragher react to City verdict

Former City defender Micah Richards said he was “absolutely devastated” after reading the Premier League’s findings, particularly the description of “sham contracts”.

Richards, who joined City’s academy at 14, said he had been contacted by a lifelong supporter who was upset and looking for answers he could not provide.

“I feel saddened, I feel angry, I feel a little bit confused because, on the other side, you have City’s side of the story,” Richards said.

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, meanwhile, argued that City’s titles should be removed from their record if the findings stand.

“I feel for the players. They’ll almost feel like a lot of their career is going to have an asterisk, or a lot of people will be calling it a sham,” Carragher said.

Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards says he felt “absolutely devastated” after reading the Premier League’s “damning” guilty verdict on the club’s financial charges.

“The reports were troubling,” he said on The Rest is Football podcast. “I saw the words which were used by the Premier League in ‘sham contracts’ and I felt absolutely devastated.

“I was at that club since I was 14 years old, I would die for that club. I achieved my dream at Manchester City, but then to hear these reports, and not only me as an ex-player, but the fans, what they have to go through, absolutely devastating,” he added.