Pep Guardiola, who has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Manchester City until 2027, says he will stand by the club even if they are relegated due to alleged breaches of financial rules.
The 53-year-old has committed his future to the club, although no decision is expected on the 115 Premier League charges City face until early next year.
City deny any wrongdoing, but sanctions in the event of a guilty verdict can range from a hefty fine to points deductions or even relegation. Guardiola said 12 months ago that he would manage City in League One if he had to.
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He reiterated the sentiment on Friday before the Premier League meeting with Tottenham.
“I said it six months ago. You have my interviews. I said when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong and people say ‘what happens if we get relegated?’
“I don’t know what position they’re going to give us, the conference? [But] next year we will come up and come up and get back to the Premier League.
“I knew it then, I feel it now.”
Was there a lack of replacements behind Guardiola’s new Man City deal?
Guardiola was in an expressive mood when he spoke to the media for over 25 minutes.
For the first time since joining the club in 2016, Guardiola has repeatedly mentioned that he has also won an unprecedented four league titles in a row. “Two sides of the same coin”
He also railed through his extensive injury issues, adding midfielder Mateo Kovacic to the list of those unavailable for the visit of Ange Postecoglou’s side, but confirmed that the central defensive trio of John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake could well be fit.
Ballon D’Or winner Rodri, one of those with the strongest absence, will be at the Etihad Stadium tomorrow, although his involvement will be limited to saying a few hellos as he continues to recover from knee surgery.
But the most interesting conversation was around Guardiola’s contract.
It was widely reported earlier in the week that he had agreed to a one-year contract extension, with the belief that an extra season would be added as “an option”.
Man City defender Walker talks about Guardiola signing a new two-year contract
There seemed to be something practical about his explanation of why the deal covers two seasons instead of one, in negotiations that Guardiola says were concluded in two hours.
“For the weather!” he said initially, before giving a serious answer: “That’s a good question. Mainly, I don’t want the next season in September, October, November to be about ‘Pep, does he want to extend again?’. I don’t want to be in that position.
“In the end, the contract is there. I would like to stay two more years, but I know that if the results are not good, I will not stay for another two years.
“We have legendary players here in the team, but if we don’t perform, the fans and the chairman will ask what’s going on and you have to change. Everyone is under pressure. I have the contract, but maybe in a month I won’t be here. .”
It is impossible to imagine, even in the unlikely event City’s losing streak continues.
Deep down, Guardiola knows it – and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak knows it too.
“In just two hours we did it,” Guardiola said.
“Maybe I’m being arrogant, but I think we deserve to continue for what we’ve been doing over the last few years.”
This means that the Spaniard will spend a total of more than ten years in the blue part of Manchester.
“Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here. We have experienced so many wonderful moments together. I have very special feelings for this club,” Guardiola himself says on the club’s website.
