Football: Premier; Guardiola returns to the Etihad, the first time since leaving City

Pep Guardiola is expected to return to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday 14 October, for the Champions League match between Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain: it would be the Spanish coach's first appearance in the Citizens' stadium since, at the end of last season, he left the bench after ten years at the helm of the team.

The return - we read today on the BBC website - comes at a particularly delicate moment for Manchester City, after the verdict of the independent commission called to judge the 115 charges brought by the Premier League for alleged violations of financial rules. Earlier this month the club was found guilty of the majority of charges relating to the period between 2009-10 and 2017-18.

City continue to deny any wrongdoing and have appealed against the commission's findings that the club had artificially inflated commercial revenues by £830 million through contracts deemed fictitious.

Guardiola, 55, reiterated his support for the club and the owners after the verdict. "I am here, more than ever - he wrote on social media, assuring -. I am, always have been and always will be at the side of my club.

The Spaniard led City for a decade, winning six Premier League titles, including four consecutive titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups and five League Cups. Next weekend, City are expected to travel to Anfield against Liverpool.