Pep Guardiola reveals date of Man City's 115 Premier League charges outcome | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola revealed that the club expect to discover the outcome of their ongoing legal battle with the Premier League "in one month".

The reigning top-flight champions were sensationally charged with more than 100 breaches of mainly financial regulations by the Premier League in February 2023. City were accused of artificially inflating sponsorship agreements to circumnavigate continental and domestic economic restrictions. The club have always refuted any wrongdoing.

An independent tribunal heard arguments from City and the Premier League during a trial at the end of 2024. While no specific date for the verdict was ever released, it was accepted that a resolution would arrive in the first quarter of 2025.

Guardiola has clarified that vague timescale. "In one month, I think there will be a verdict and a sentence," the City boss told reporters on Friday, 7 February. "After that, we will see my opinion of what happened so far."

Pep Guardiola has endured more frustration on the pitch than off it this season / Marc Atkins/GettyImages

The Catalan coach has repeatedly given his public backing to the club, taking aim at the other teams in the division who are supposedly praying for City's downfall. Guardiola even signed a two-year extension in November which didn't include a break clause in the event of relegation - one of several possible punishments if City are found guilty.

"My words will not convince people," Guardiola continued. "I know with this club it is always 'just about the money'.

"But in the past five years, we are the last among the top six for net spend. Even after what we have spent in this transfer window, we are away from Chelsea, [Manchester] United, Arsenal, Tottenham. Even from Liverpool. The only reason why is we sell a lot in the last seasons."

City spent more than the rest of the division combined during the winter window, bringing in four first-team players for a total sum in the region of £180m. Only Chelsea in 2023 have ever exceeded that haul in a mid-season transfer window.

However, Guardiola is largely correct in his assertion about City's recent book-keeping. Since the summer of 2020, the Sky Blues have recorded a net spend of £322m, per Transfermarkt. That is smaller than Chelsea (£770m), Manchester United (£568m), Tottenham (£476m), Arsenal (£464m) and even Newcastle United (£351). Liverpool, however, do boast a net spend of £250m.