Pep Guardiola issued a coy update about his Man City future ahead of Saturday’s Fulham clash. (Image: Man City)
Pep Guardiola refused to be dragged into a conversation about his Manchester City future as the Catalan coach edges closer to his contract expiry date.
His deal at the Etihad Stadium is set to expire next summer, with Guardiola still believed to be undecided about his next move.
Asked if he wants to stay at City beyond his current contract, Guardiola replied: “I’m not going to talk about this subject. What is going to happen is going to happen.”
The uncertainty around Guardiola’s future comes at a time when his legacy as City boss has been thrown into question following the club’s alleged breaches of financial rules.
It’s alleged by the Premier League that City breached over 100 financial rules between 2009 and 2018 – a period of time that overlaps with Guardiola’s spell as manager.
The Premier League champions deny any wrongdoing with the hearing currently ongoing.
But when quizzed on if he feels a personal urge to defend the club’s achievements, Guardiola responded: “I fell in love since the first day I was at Man City. What is going to happen [with his future] is going to happen.
“I’m part of this club, deep inside of my bones, and the best way to defend the club is by winning games and doing my job as best as possible.
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Pep Guardiola’s current Man City contract is due to expire in the summer. (Image: Getty)
“I’m going to defend my club because I trust, since the owner and especially the chairman for the relationship and CEOs and the all the people working here, for many, many years. I know them quite well, much more than any of you.”
He continued: “I’m part this club, I’m not just a manager, and always will be that way, because it cannot be different from the way they have treated me since day one, it’s impossible.
“When you give something, and they give me a lot, the rest is the consequences. It’s simple.”
It comes after a group of City supporters raised money for a display ahead of Saturday’s match with Fulham thanking the ex-Barcelona manager for his service while pleading with Guardiola for him to extend his stay.
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Upon discovering the fan’s sacrifice, Guardiola said: “They have to bring me the bill, I will pay for the banner! I don’t want them to spend money for that reason!”
On the pitch, City will be hoping to return to winning ways after back-to-back draw saw the 2023 European champions surrender control of the title race to Liverpool.
They’ll have to do it without Kevin De Bruyne though, with Guardiola confirming the Belgian is out for the Fulham fixture.
He revealed: “For tomorrow [Saturday] he’s not ready. How can he go [with Belgium] when he didn’t play one game [for Man City since the injury]? I never understood that. But, anyway. He cannot play with us, he cannot play with Belgium.”
City take on Fulham at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon with kick-off at 3pm.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1957314/pep-guardiola-man-city-charges-premier-league