Pep Guardiola has reaffirmed his commitment to Manchester City, stating he will remain with the club even if they face relegation due to alleged breaches of financial regulations.
The City manager recently signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the club until 2027.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the 115 Premier League charges against City—expected to be addressed early next year—Guardiola has pledged his loyalty.
While City denies any wrongdoing, potential sanctions could range from hefty fines to points deductions or relegation.
Reflecting on the situation, Guardiola reiterated his stance from a year ago, saying he would continue managing City even if they were in League One.
He repeated the sentiment on Friday before the Premier League encounter with Tottenham.
“I said that six months ago. You have my interviews,” he said.
“I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong and people say ‘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] next year we will come up and come up and come back to the Premier League.
“I knew it then, I feel it now.”
Expressive Pep loves the North West weather
Guardiola was in an expressive mood as he spoke to the media for over 25 minutes.
In embracing the fact City are currently on a four-match losing streak for the first time since he arrived at the club in 2016, Guardiola repeatedly mentioned he had also won an unprecedented four league titles in a row.
“Two sides of the same coin,” is how he described it.
He also rattled through his extensive injury problems, adding midfielder Mateo Kovacic to the list of those not available for the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side, but confirmed central defensive trio John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake may well be fit.
Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, whose absence has been notably impactful, will be at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow. However, his participation will be limited to greetings as he continues recovering from knee surgery.
The more intriguing topic, though, was Guardiola’s contract situation. Reports earlier in the week suggested he had agreed to a one-year extension, with an optional additional season. However, the final agreement spans two years.
Guardiola described the negotiations—reportedly completed within two hours—as straightforward, though there seems to be some convenience in his explanation for the extended duration.
“For the weather!” he said initially, before offering a serious response: “It’s a good question. Mainly I don’t want next season in September, October, November to be [about] ‘Pep, will he extend again?’. I don’t want to be in that position.
“In the end, the contract is there. I would like to stay two more years but I know if the results are not good I will not stay for two more years.
“We have legendary players here in the team but if we don’t perform our fans and chairman will ask what is going on and you have to change. Everyone is under pressure. I have the contract but maybe in a month I am not here.”
That is impossible to imagine, even in the unlikely event City’s losing streak continues.
Deep down, Guardiola knows it – and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak knows it too.
“In just two hours, we did it,” said Guardiola.
“Maybe I am arrogant, but I think we deserve to continue for what we have done in the last years.”