2 weeks Ago By The Straits Times
Pep Guardiola is hoping to win more trophies with Manchester City after extending his stay till 2027. LONDON – Pep Guardiola has extended his contract as manager of English Premier League champions Manchester City for a further two seasons, saying on Nov 21 that “I could not leave now” with the club facing arguably the toughest period of his time at the Etihad Stadium. There had been speculation the 53-year-old’s City career could be coming to an end, with the club facing an uncertain future due to an ongoing hearing over 115 breaches of the league’s financial regulations.
City are also currently on a four-game losing streak in all competitions, although they are second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool. They next host Tottenham Hotspur on Nov 23. But reports emerged on Nov 19 that Guardiola, who took over at City in 2016 and has since won a total of 18 trophies across all competitions, including six Premier League titles, would stay.
With City on a record-breaking run of four successive top-flight titles, Guardiola – who led the club to a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2023 – said he changed his mind about this being his last season. “Now I cannot leave,” he said in an interview on the club’s website after agreeing to remain at the Etihad until 2027. “Maybe the four defeats were the reason why I felt I cannot leave.
” Guardiola, who has repeatedly been asked about his future in recent weeks, added: “Since the beginning of the season I was thinking a lot. I will be honest, I thought (this season) should be the last one. “But the problems we have in the last month, I felt now was not the time to leave.
I don’t want to let the club down.” He also said the treble, which saw City crowned champions of Europe for the first time in their history, represented a “dream come true”, while four Premier League titles in a row was “amazing”. He insisted, however, he still had a job to do to help City hit those heights again.
Guardiola, who previously enjoyed a trophy-laden career as a player and coach at Barcelona before taking charge of Bayern Munich, said in an initial club statement: “Manchester City means so much to me...
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. “I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for.
Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.” Back on the pitch, City would be glad to be playing at home against Spurs this weekend after losing their last four away fixtures.
They have not lost their last 52 matches across all competitions at the Etihad, and are on a 35-game unbeaten home run in the Premier League. This season, they have 13 points from a possible 15 at home. To add to the optimism, Guardiola would also be glad that his injury woes are easing.
Jack Grealish, Kevin de Bruyne, John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Phil Foden have all returned to training, and will be assessed before kick-off alongside Ruben Dias, Jeremy Doku, Nathan Ake and Matheus Nunes. Over in the Tottenham camp, Rodrigo Bentancur has been handed a seven-match ban for a racial slur on teammate Son Heung-min. The club have appealed against the decision.
Richarlison and Wilson Odobert are ruled out, while centre-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are doubtful. Spurs are in 10th place after winning five, drawing one and losing five of their 11 games this season. Manager Ange Postecoglou, meanwhile, has backed Bentancur and insisted he is an “outstanding person”.
“We will work with Rodrigo through that (period of suspension) and make sure he has all our support in all the right ways so when he is available again he’s ready to go,” he said. “He understands he has made a mistake, he’s prepared to accept whatever penalty comes his way. “I know him.
He’s an unbelievable teammate. He’s a person of the upmost character that has made a mistake. I think when that happens our role is to support him.
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