Pep Guardiola makes new relegation promise as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham receive fresh deadline

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has promised to stick with the Premier League champions even if they are relegated out of the top flight to the National League.

City currently finds themselves embroiled in a battle with the Premier League over alleged historical breaches of Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules. Guardiola's men have always firmly denied any wrongdoing and insist they have 'irrefutable evidence' to clear their names.

The hearing into these charges began in September with an outcome expected in the new year. Should City be found guilty of the alleged breaches, their punishment at this stage is somewhat unclear.

One potential outcome would see City relegated from the top flight and potentially be dropped to the fifth tier of English football. However, should this happen, Guardiola has insisted he will remain at the club.

"I read something about how we need to be relegated immediately," he told media before today's clash with Tottenham Hotspur. "75 per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff.

"I prefer not to be in that position but once it's there I love it - because you believe in your club and the people there. I believe what they say to me [about the alleged breaches] and the reasons why.

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"We're awaiting the sentence in February or March. What happens if we are relegated? I will be here.

"I don't know the position they are going to bring us. The Conference?

"But we will come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I feel it."

Arsenal and Spurs are among four clubs believed to have reserved the right to seek compensation from City should they be found guilty after they missed out on winning the title during the time period when the alleged breaches occured. Liverpool and Manchester United are the other two teams thought to have taken this action.

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