Manchester City’s European night against Paris Saint-Germain on 14 October will bring a familiar figure back to the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola, currently out of work after leaving City at the end of last season, plans to attend the Champions League league-phase fixture in a public show of support for his former club.
The visit comes after the Premier League confirmed City’s guilt in the case concerning 115 alleged breaches of its financial regulations. It will be Guardiola’s first return to the stadium since ending a spell that began in 2016 and produced 20 trophies.
Quick facts
- Guardiola will attend Manchester City’s Champions League match against PSG on 14 October.
- The former City manager left at the conclusion of last season.
- His City tenure delivered six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League crown.
- He issued a message of support on 30 September, a day after the independent commission’s verdict on the 115 financial-rule cases.
- City resume training on Thursday before Sunday’s trip to Liverpool.
Guardiola’s appearance will be his second public intervention since the ruling. On 30 September, he addressed supporters and insisted that the club would face the consequences together.
“I want every Manchester City fan to know that I am here, more than ever,” Guardiola said. “I have always been, I am, and I always will be behind my club, its owner, its chairman, Ferran, the players, the staff, Enzo and you, our extraordinary supporters.”
He added: “Let me be clear: we will get through this together. I love you all.”
The message underlined the depth of Guardiola’s attachment to the club he led through its most decorated period. Alongside six domestic league titles, his 20-trophy haul included the Champions League triumph that marked City’s first victory in Europe’s leading club competition.
For Enzo Maresca and the current squad, attention turns first to the return from the international break. The players are due back at training on Thursday, with Maresca scheduled to speak to the media on Friday.
City then travel to Anfield on Sunday to face Liverpool, before the Etihad welcomes PSG and its former manager returns to Manchester in the middle of a difficult chapter for the club.
