EPL: Man City expect Guardiola to leave before possible relegation, points deduction

Manchester City staff expect Pep Guardiola to have already left the club, before any possible sanctions for financial rule breaches hit, according to The Athletic.

On Monday, the Etihad club were charged with over 100 breaches of financial rules by the Premier League.

The charges relate to financial information regarding revenue, details of manager and player remuneration, UEFA regulations, profitability and sustainability and cooperation with Premier League investigations.

Speaking in May 2022, Guardiola vowed: “I said to them, ‘If you lie to me, I am not here. I will be out’.”

This has raised questions about whether a guilty verdict would end the Catalan’s time in charge.

Guardiola is understood to be one of the first to be told of the news among City’s senior figures before it was made public on Monday.

The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach only signed an extension until 2025 in November last year.

In his six years at the club, he has won 11 trophies, including four Premier League titles

Should Man City be found guilty, they face a range of potential sanctions including a points deduction or even an expulsion – though it could take years to come to a conclusion.