Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has indicated that he is open to extending his stay at the Premier League champions beyond 2021 when his current contract ends even though the club faces a potential two-year Champions League suspension.
City were banned from European competition for the next two seasons and fined 30 million euros ($32.53 million) by European soccerโs governing body UEFA last week after an investigation into alleged breaches of Financial Fair Play rules.
Guardiola, who this week stated that he had no reason to leave the club in the close season, said he would take a call on an extension after talking to City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak โat the end of the season or in the middle of next season.โ
โIโm working with exceptional players and I have the feeling that they follow us 100%. Knowing how itโs not easy working with us and with me, but Iโm happy,โ Guardiola told reporters.
โThatโs the only reason why, when I move from one place, always itโs because Iโm thinking I can be happier than the place that I was before.
โWeโve got incredible owners and a good relationship, so I think it will not be a problem to understand both sides, if we decide to stay three more years or stay in the time we are together.โ
Guardiola, who has never spent more than four years at his previous clubs Barcelona (2008-2012) and Bayern Munich (2013-2016), signed a one-year contract extension at City in 2018 โ a decision he said he did not regret.
โThe important thing is that I didnโt regret one second to come here and extend the contract,โ he added. โAfter that results dictate our jobโฆ Every manager is sacked, every manager has problems, every manager has good and bad moments.
โI am no different. I donโt regret one moment the decision we made together and I want to finish this contract and after that we will see.โ
REUTERS