Pep Guardiola has stated that Manchester City will fully accept the verdict of the independent commission regarding the 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations brought against the club by the Premier League. City has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to the charges, which date back to 2009 and were made public in February 2023. The case is set to be heard this autumn, and Guardiola expressed his hope for a swift resolution.

“I’m glad the process is starting soon, and I hope it concludes quickly,” Guardiola said. “This will benefit everyone, especially the club, and also other Premier League teams and those awaiting the outcome. We will go to trial, with an independent panel, and whatever the decision is, we will accept it, as we always have. It won’t affect us – we’ve been discussing this for three or four years now.”

When asked if the timing of the hearing could impact his team’s performance as they aim for a fifth consecutive Premier League title, Guardiola was firm in his response. “We know it’s coming, we accept it, and our focus remains on our matches.”

In other news, City confirmed that Ilkay Gündogan has rejoined the squad after a year with Barcelona. The 33-year-old, who was instrumental in City’s success during his previous stint, winning 12 major trophies, could be included in the squad for Saturday’s match against Ipswich Town, pending international clearance.

Guardiola was enthusiastic about Gündogan’s return but emphasized that the midfielder, like all players, would have to compete for his place. “Ilkay has to perform like everyone else. We have Phil [Foden], Kevin [De Bruyne], Bernardo [Silva], Rodri, Kovacic, Matheus [Nunes], James [McAtee], Rico [Lewis] – all of them are fighting for a spot,” Guardiola said. “To stay at the top, every player must deliver every day.”

Rodri, who missed City’s opening win against Chelsea, remains a doubt for the Ipswich match due to an injury sustained during international duty. “He’s still dealing with some discomfort,” Guardiola confirmed. “We’ll see if he’s able to train with the group today.”