Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Manchester City’s latest Premier League charge and multi-million fine

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has become the first person within the Etihad Stadium to publicise his views on the club’s recent Premier League charge and fine.

Questions put to the Manchester City head coach comes after confirmation that the Premier League champions had been fined a sum of £2.09 million for repeatedly emerging late for both the start of matches in the English top-flight, and after the half-time interval.

A statement issued by the Premier League confirmed that Manchester City had accepted breaches of England’s top division’s rules on 22 separate occasions “without good reason, external”.

From the side of Manchester City themselves, it was further stated that they had “apologised for the accepted breaches and confirmed that it has reminded the players and football management teams of their responsibilities”.

The same statement from the Premier League explained, “Rules relating to kick-offs and restarts help ensure the organisation of the competition is set at the highest possible professional standard and provides certainty to fans and participating clubs.

“It also ensures the broadcast of all 380 league matches around the world is kept to schedule.”

Whilst Manchester City declined to comment on the matter at the time to various news publications, a public word on the matter has now been issued by Pep Guardiola himself.

Speaking to the media on Friday evening, the 53-year-old was asked for his views on the club’s latest run-in with the Premier League, to which he responded, “I read the news when it appeared.”

He continued, “I will try to do my speeches at half-time shorter.”

Later this year, a Premier League disciplinary commission is expected to hear 115 charges against Manchester City for allegedly breaching its financial regulations, first revealed to the public in an official press release in February 2023.

Manchester City have consistently maintained the stance of strenuously denying the charges and continuously confirming that they are supported by a “body of irrefutable evidence”.

City will return to Premier League duties in over two weeks time, as their defence of a fourth successive English top-flight crown begins with a visit to Stamford Bridge to take on Enzo Maresca’s revamped Chelsea outfit.