Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, marking his first visit since the club was found guilty of breaching Premier League financial rules. The former Manchester City manager, who left the club at the end of last season, sat in the directors’ box wearing a flat cap while the team faced Paris Saint‑Germain in a home match that also featured the club’s new stand named after him. City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano were also present, and Guardiola had earlier met with both men to present a united front as the club navigates the fallout from the guilty verdict.
The game was the first home fixture for City after the ruling, and the club’s new manager, former Chelsea and Leicester boss Enzo Maresca, took charge on the sidelines. City had already shown resilience in the wake of the decision, having won their first match after the verdict was announced by defeating Liverpool 3‑0 at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday. The victory was a morale boost for a squad that has been under scrutiny since the commission’s findings.
Guardiola’s appearance at the Etihad was a visible sign of support for the club. In a social media post following the guilty verdict, he pledged his loyalty to the team, the owner, the chairman, the staff and the fans, stating, “I want every single Manchester City fan across the world to know I am here; more than ever. I am, always have been, always will, be behind my club, my owner, my chairman, Ferran [Soriano], the players, staff, Enzo and you, our unique supporters. Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.” The message underscored his continued role as a global ambassador for the City Football Group.
City’s appeal against the independent commission’s decision is still pending, and the club maintains that it possesses “irrefutable” evidence to support its case. Guardiola’s decade‑long tenure at City yielded 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, a Champions League trophy, three FA Cups and five League Cups. His return to the Etihad, even in a spectator capacity, signals the club’s intent to move forward while keeping its former manager’s legacy intact as it prepares for the remainder of the season.