‘I’m closer to leaving:’ Guardiola casts doubt over long-term Man City future

News Express |20th May 2024 | 173
‘I’m closer to leaving:’ Guardiola casts doubt over long-term Man City future




Pep Guardiola cast doubt over his long-term future at Manchester City on Sunday after winning a historic fourth straight Premier League title, admitting it is difficult to find motivation after so much sustained success

Citys 3-1 victory against West Ham sealed a sixth top-flight title in seven seasons under the Catalan, who has taken the club to extraordinary new levels since he arrived in 2016.

His tally Is exceeded only by Alex Ferguson, who won 13 Premier League titles during his long reign at Manchester United.

In 2019 City became the first club to win the domestic treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup in the same season and last year they emulated Manchester Uniteds class of 1999 in winning the treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League, which they lifted for the first time.

City are now the first side in English top-flight history to win four titles in a row - surpassing the achievements of the great Liverpool and Manchester United teams from previous eras.

And next week they will attempt to become the first English side to win back-to-back domestic doubles when they take on United at Wembley in the FA Cup final.

Former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager Guardiola, 53, has a contract at the Etihad until the end of next season but his future after that is unclear.

The reality is Im closer to leaving than to staying, Guardiola told Sky Sports. Its eight years, will be nine.

Right now my feeling is I want to stay next season. We talked with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well (to see) if they follow me, or they follow us, for many reasons. I will stay and during the season we will talk when calm.

Asked at his post-match press conference whether he felt as though he had completed English football and what he felt was left to achieve, Guardiola shrugged his shoulders and said: I had that feeling last season.

When we won in Istanbul (in the Champions League final) I said, ˜Its over, what am I doing here? Its over, theres nothing left.

But I have a contract, Im here and still enjoying. Some of the moments Im a bit tired but some of the moments I love, and after I said ˜OK, we are here.

We start winning games, playing good, different players, new players and I start to think about ˜No one has done four in a row, why dont we try? And now I feel ˜Its done, so what next? I dont know right now.

He added: Next season, right now, Im not able to know exactly what will be the motivation to do it because its difficult sometimes to find it when everything is done.

Guardiola said for now he was enjoying basking in the glow of another Premier League triumph.

When I moved here if someone had said I would win six leagues in seven seasons I would say youre insane - no way, he said. (AFP)

Manchester Citys Spanish manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy after the presentation ceremony following the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 19, 2024.(Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

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