Pep Guardiola makes significant Manchester City future admission with fierce rebuttal

Pep Guardiola has vowed to remain at Manchester City, even if the club are relegated to League One for breaches of Premier League rules.

Manchester City were hit with 115 charges for alleged financial breaches by the Premier League following a four-year investigation in February, with talks surrounding the investigation recently intensifying, after Everton were handed a 10-point deduction.

The Merseyside club have dropped to 19th in the Premier League table after being handed a points deduction for FFP breaches by an Independent Commission during the recent international break.

Manchester City, who deny any wrongdoing, will also go up against an Independent Commission that could impose a punishment that leads to relegation from the top-flight, if found guilty.

The 115 breaches are alleged to have taken place over the course of nine years and relate to financial information, profitability and sustainability, player and manager remuneration, failure to cooperate and UEFA regulations.

In February, Manchester City responded to the charges by stating that they have a “comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence” and that they “look forward to this matter being put to rest once and for all.”

The treble-winners recently overturned a two-year ban from the UEFA Champions League at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and have rehired leading lawyers Lord Pannick KC and Paul Harris KC.

Speaking for the first time since Everton were found guilty of FFP breaches, Pep Guardiola vowed to remain at Manchester City, even if the club were forced to play football in League One.

“Wait until it’s decided, and I’ll tell you then,” said the Catalan.

“You’re questioning me like we have been punished. At the moment, we’re innocent. There is more chance I will stay if we are in League One than if we win the Champions League.

“I know people are saying, ‘Why don’t City go to the Conference’. But let’s wait. It’s two different cases, it’s not the same. One of them is longer, it’s more complicated.

“Why should I not believe [we are innocent]? It’s the lawyers to make the defence in front of the judge. I didn’t change my opinion, we wait and after we accept the resolutions.”