Pep Guardiola reveals why he ‘couldn’t’ leave Man City
Pep Guardiola explained that Manchester City’s recent run of poor form inspired him to sign a two-year contract extension with the club this week.
City limped into November’s international break on the back of an unprecedented run of four consecutive defeats. Tottenham Hotspurs, Bournemouth, Sporting CP and Brighton all got the better of the reigning Premier League champions, consigning Guardiola to the longest losing streak of his entire managerial career.
Guardiola’s existing deal had been due to expire at the end of this season, but the 53-year-old signed on a new agreement stretching to 2027 on Thursday.
When quizzed on the reasoning behind his continued commitment to a club which he first joined in 2016, Guardiola told”I felt I could not leave now, simple as that.
“Don’t ask me the reason why. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt I cannot leave. I felt the club still want me or had the fact that we were together and that’s the reason why we sign.”
It has not been plain-sailing for Pep Guardiola this season / Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages
Guardiola’s close friend Txiki Begiristain at the end of this season conjured doubts over the manager’s immediate future.
That sense of uncertainty had transmitted to the Catalan coach himself, as Guardiola revealed: “I want to be honest, I thought this [season] should be the last one. But the problems we had in the last month, I felt now was not the right time to leave.”
Despite Begiristain’s exit, City’s entire hierarchy has been carefully moulded to fit Guardiola’s every need. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss admitted that he has “everything a manager could ever wish for”.
“Manchester City means so much to me,” he continued. “This is my ninth season here – we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.”
Source: 90mins
