Guardiola faces fierce criticism after backing Manchester City over Premier League charges

Pep Guardiola has been accused of being either a “fraud”, “short-sighted” or a “hypocrite” after publicly supporting Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict over alleged financial rule breaches.

The Premier League announced that an independent commission had found Manchester City guilty of all the charges relating to breaches of its financial regulations across nine seasons, between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

The club was also found guilty of three of four allegations relating to its failure to co-operate with the league’s investigation.

The case covers two seasons during Guardiola’s time at Manchester City, including the campaign in which he won his first Premier League title with the club.

In a strongly worded column for The Times, writer Matthew Syed questioned the legacy of the former Manchester City manager and asked whether Guardiola had been aware of the alleged wrongdoing.

“We now know that he managed a corrupt club, driven by corrupt contracts and financed by corrupt companies, during what we can now call a corrupt era,” Syed wrote.

Manchester City spent more than €1bn during the period covered by the investigation.

“There are two possibilities,” added Syed. “Either Pep knew, in which case he is not a visionary or a legend but simply a fraud, or he did not know, in which case he is among the most short-sighted people imaginable.

“I am not a forensic accountant, but I have questioned Manchester City’s financial arrangements for more than a decade, despite receiving sustained insults and threats. Did Pep see nothing? Is he blind?”

Syed said there was “of course” a third possibility: hypocrisy.

“There is no doubt that Guardiola is a great strategist who has achieved success at many clubs,” he concluded. “But let us be honest: his legacy will remain confined to his time at Etihad Stadium, where the accountants performed the real magic, not the manager.”

Guardiola declares support for Manchester City

Guardiola issued his first statement after the verdict on Wednesday, expressing his continued support for Manchester City, where he spent nine seasons and won every major trophy available to the club.

His achievements included six Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy.

“I want every Manchester City fan to know that I am here, more than ever,” Guardiola said. “I always have been, I still am and I always will be supporting my club, its owner, its chairman, Ferran, the players, the coaching staff, Enzo, and you, our wonderful fans.

“Let me assure you: we will get through this difficult time together. I love you all.”