Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola
Mike McGrath
©Telegraph Media Group Holdings Ltd
Today at 19:39
Pep Guardiola has revealed there have been no discussions over leaving Manchester City at the end of the season − but expects the club to be prepared with a succession plan when he decides to depart.
The 54-year-old has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the next season, although there are claims he could leave at the end of the campaign after 10 years in English football.
But he says his future has not been brought up during daily discussions with sporting director Hugo Viana and the rest of the City hierarchy. Guardiola has never specified a date when he will step down but has stated that he would take a break from football when he eventually leaves City.
“There are no discussions − end of the subject. There are no discussions,” said Guardiola. “I will not be eternally here, but I’ve said before I will not be here forever. None of us will be forever in this world but there are no discussions.
“What is going to happen will happen and the club has to be prepared for everything − for the players and the CEOs, except the owners.
“They are here unless they are going to sell the club, which I don’t think will happen. The rest, the club has to be prepared but that subject is not on the table right now.”
Guardiola’s future looked uncertain last season when he got within seven months of his contract expiring, but he agreed a new deal taking him through to 2027.
“The last three or four years every time during a certain period someone asks me that question,” he added.
“Sooner or later, when I’m 75 or 76, I will quit Manchester City. I understand the question when I have the end of a contract (coming) but I have 18 months left and I am so delighted and happy and excited about the development of the team and being there.
“That is all I can say. That question happens every single season at a certain point and I’m ok. The club and I are incredibly connected in terms of the decisions we have to take and when it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”