Architect of City's Golden Era Returns to Etihad / Pep Returns Home: "I Said I'd Be With You!"

Pep Guardiola returns to the Etihad for the first time tonight, during Manchester City's darkest days, to watch the match between City and Paris Saint-Germain.

According to Sports Three, Pep Guardiola has returned to his home tonight, but this time we will not see him along the long line of Ittihad Stadium with his usual fast and nervous steps. The man who ruled City for a decade and rewrote the history of Manchester City is sitting in the special seat of the stadium and behind Hugo Viana, the manager of the sports club, watching the crucial game of his former team with Paris Saint-Germain.

This is Guardiola's first appearance at Etihad after leaving at the end of last season. A symbolic comeback in one of the most inflammatory moments in the history of Manchester City.

Guardiola's presence in the stadium coincides with the club being in a whirlwind. City is dealing with one of the biggest crises in the history of English football. Less than three weeks ago, the Premier League's independent commission convicted Manchester City of the bulk of the financial allegations dating back to 2009-2018. Despite the filing of an appeal by the club and the uncertainty of the final punishments, City is the most controversial club in the world of football these days.

On such days, Pep's presence is very special. He is not like the former coaches who come back to watch their former team play. Let's not forget that Pep has not completely lost contact with City and works as the global ambassador of City Football Group and technical advisor of this group. Two weeks ago and immediately after announcing the verdict against City, Pep had emphasized in a decisive message to the fans that he will always stand behind his club and will remain with the owners, managers, players and Enzo Marsca. His final sentence was short but firm: "We will get through this together."