Guardiola set to attend Man City v PSG next week

What the report says

Pep Guardiola is expected to return to Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium next week to watch the club’s Champions League match against Paris St-Germain, according to BBC Sport Football. The game will be City’s first home fixture since the Premier League’s independent commission found the club guilty of the majority of the 115 charges brought against it over alleged financial rule breaches.

The BBC says it would be Guardiola’s first visit back to the stadium since he left City at the end of last season after a decade in charge. During that spell, he guided the club to six Premier League titles, including four in a row, as well as the Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups.

City have denied wrongdoing and have appealed against the findings. The BBC reports that the commission’s case related to alleged breaches between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons, and that the club’s response included a statement of support from Guardiola for the owners, chairman and staff.

The development matters because it places a major European match in the middle of continuing scrutiny over City’s finances and the club’s future. More broadly, the case could affect how supporters, rivals and football authorities view one of the most successful teams in English football in recent years.