Pep Guardiola issues major update on Manchester City future and keeps door open to contract extension

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has once again issued a huge statement on his Etihad Stadium future, speaking during his latest USA media address during pre-season.

Speaking to the media ahead of City’s next pre-season friendly against AC Milan at Yankee Stadium in New York City this weekend, Pep Guardiola was keen to insist on keeping the door open to an extended stay with the Premier League champions beyond the upcoming season.

Immediately addressing his comments of being ‘closer to leaving than staying’ issued at the end of last season, Pep Guardiola explained, “I know maybe I was not correct to say in the right moment, when we won the Premier League, but I’m saying that I’ve been eight years in Man City. So I’m not being here for eight more years. So that’s why I’m more closer to leaving than staying. But I didn’t say I’m leaving!”

The Manchester City manager continued, “When I’m leaving, I will say I’m leaving. But I didn’t say it. So that was my approach, maybe I was not correct to say but that was my feeling right now. So we spoke with the club and said it’s a lot of years, so we’ll see what happens.

“But I will not rule it out absolutely to extend the contract. I would love to stay, because I would love to stay. So that’s why I don’t want it to happen, I don’t want to deny my feelings, I want to see my players. Nine years, today, in the same club is… an eternity.

“And I want to be sure it’s the right decision, not just for me, for the club, it’s the right decision for the players, that still they run like they already ran for eight years, it doesn’t matter the competition, it doesn’t matter the tournament. This is what I have to see. And that’s all.

“But I’m pretty sure eight more years I will not stay, because I think it’s good to refresh, the players, the managers. But at the same time, we had success, still winning Premier Leagues, still arriving in the last stages. When we were defeated in tournaments, in important tournaments, the Champions League with a good prestige of the way we were already defeated. So this is my feeling right now.”

On whether he has given himself any time limit as to when to make a decision on his Manchester City future, Pep Guardiola explained, “I’ve not given it consideration, because I haven’t decided I’m leaving.

“Well, when I decide, OK it’s over… First of all, I will talk with my sporting director, my chairman, my CEO. That’s the first. I will never do one step without my tea, my club not knowing it. I’m incredibly grateful. Too much… When it happens, we will talk. When? I don’t know when is the best. It doesn’t mean to do it that way is perfect, or doing it another way is perfect. Or maybe in a few months, I will say, extend the contract. So I don’t know.

“What I said at the end of the season, I said OK at the start of the season, how is everything going, how connected we are together again, and after we’ll see.”

This is a developing story. More to follow.