Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola has admitted he is unlikely to repeat his seven-year stay at Manchester City anywhere else after dropping a hint he will extend his Etihad stay even further. Guardiola insists “everything is under control” with regards to an extension and that talks will be held over a new deal when the time is right for himself and the club. But having already exceeded expectations with the length of his stay at City, it is widely expected he will commit to at least another season. He has stayed for so long because of the working conditions he has found at the club and the relationships he’s built up with the people above him, including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarek, and whatever job he takes next, he knows nothing will last as long as his union with the Blues.
Pep Guardiola said: “Stay in another place for seven years? No, I don’t think so. It is difficult to find what I have here as a manager. To be a manager for a long time you need to be so supported, the results help a lot, that is undeniable. In this world they sack you, they fire you, we know that. But part of that is at big clubs the part of the success of the manager is the chairman, sporting director especially and all the people here. It goes to the media, fans and players, there is stability. This is why I think only in a few clubs this can happen.”
The season pauses for six weeks for the World Cup after this weekend’s round of fixtures, with Guardiola heading back to Barcelona to spend time with his family before returning to club duties. City will spend some of the break at a training camp in Abu Dhabi, which could provide the manager with the perfect opportunity to discuss a new deal.
Pep Guardiola said: “I said many times, I don’t talk about that. Everything is under control, it’s perfect, the decision will be made together with the club the moment it has to be made. I said many times, I had the feeling that both the club and myself are happy to be together. It’s not the moment, tomorrow against Brentford is the only important thing right now. When we have time, when the moment we feel it both sides, we take a decision.”
Guardiola’s fevered celebrations at the end of last week’s dramatic 2-1 win against Fulham showed he is still enjoying life at City and a week later he is still talking about the scenes with the fans at the end of the game. He has his share of lows in those seven years as well, particularly heartbreaking Champions League exits to Tottenham in 2018/19 and Real Madrid in last season’s semi-final. But the good has outweighed the bad and Guardiola was delighted to share the moment with the supporters.
Pep Guardiola said: “It was a special moment, 10 v 11 and we scored in the last minute and people were there, never went home. They went home before. But I say to the players to go there and not stay for five seconds, we cannot enjoy it only when we lift the trophies. That is ridiculous. There are moments in the season, special games you have to share. To see the faces of the people is a privilege. You made these actions and you have to do it, not in every game. There are moments I want to go inside, when I play bad and win I don’t want to go over. I want to go home but there are moments I want to enjoy it. When fans travel to the south of England, come on, go over there and don’t forget the faces when they are clapping. Seven seasons here and there are good moments and bad moments we have had together, I cannot forget Madrid over there, Tottenham here. This is part of our lives and in six years you live them. We lived very good things but whatever happens, it is part of the incredible moments of my life that I’ve seen here.”
