Pep Guardiola has insisted he will stay with Manchester City even if they are relegated from the Premier League following accusations against them over alleged wrongdoing.
Guardiola has signed a new contract at the Etihad Stadium until 2027 with no relegation clause, and the Catalan coach will stay regardless of the outcome of the 115 charges against the club.
“I said it six months ago,” Guardiola said. “It’s not because I’m extending the contract that I’m pretending how nice this club is. I said six months or a year ago: what will happen if we are relegated? I’ll be there. If we’re in the Conference, we’re going to go up and up.
“The negotiation of the new agreement with the board of directors lasted two hours. All my life decisions have been made based on how I feel at that moment.
Guardiola said he signed a two-year contract because he did not want speculation about his future to extend into next season. He added: “Above all, I don’t want next season in September, October, November, ‘It’s Pep’s last year, he has to extend again, and again, and again.’ That was the main reason. I don’t want to be in this position.
The league claimed a victory over City on Friday in the bitter sponsor vote battle after only Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest joined Aston Villa in the rebellion. The clubs voted 16 for and four against to adopt three amendments to the associated party transactions, proposed in response to City’s historic arbitration over the summer. Such a case is different from the broader legal battle surrounding the so-called “lawsuit of the century” against the club.
Immediately, Guardiola is looking to end a run of four consecutive defeats when his side take on Tottenham on Saturday.
“Most teams are capable of losing four games in a row in different competitions, but only one team has won four Premier League titles in a row,” he added.