Guardiola insists Manchester City will accept verdict over alleged rule breaches | Manchester City

Pep Guardiola says Manchester City will accept the independent commission’s verdict on 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations brought against the club by the Premier League. The City manager insists the upcoming hearing will have no impact on the form of his players.

City deny any wrongdoing in relation to the charges, which date back to 2009 and were filed against the champions in February 2023. The case is due to be heard eventually this autumn. “I am happy that it starts quickly and hopefully it will be over quickly,” Guardiola said. “For the sake of all of us, especially the club, but also other Premier League clubs and all the people who are not waiting for the punishment.

“I wish, deep in my heart, that the process continues, the independent panel – and I say again, independent panel – and as soon as possible announce what happened and we will accept it, as we have always done (the verdict). No effect – we have been talking about it for three or four years.”

Guardiola was pressed about the timing of the affair and whether it could affect his team’s performance as they, among other objectives, seek to win a fifth successive Premier League title. “We know it will happen, we accept it and focus on our games,” he insisted.

City confirmed on Friday that Ilkay Gundogan has returned to the club. The 33-year-old, who won 12 major trophies in his first seven seasons at City, including five Premier League titles and the Champions League, will be in the matchday squad for Saturday’s visit of Ipswich Town if his international clearance is granted in time.

Guardiola immediately said yes to the prospect of bringing Gundogan back to City after a year away from Barcelona, ​​but insisted that now that he is back, the German will have to fight for his place like any other player. “If he doesn’t perform well, we play another one, we have Phil (Foden), Kevin (De Bruyne), Bernardo (Silva), Rodri there, Kova (Mateo Kovacic) there, we have Matheus (Nunes), and Macca (James McAtee), Rico (Lewis), so he has to perform,” Guardiola said. “He has to perform every day, that’s why the club maintains that level at the top.”

Rodri missed City’s opening win over Chelsea and is a serious doubt for the game against Ipswich. “He had an injury with the national team and still has some aches and pains,” Guardiola said. “The only question is whether he will be back with the group for training today.”