Pep Guardiola threatens to quit Man City in private warning to chairman

Pep Guardiola has issued a stark warning that could send shockwaves through Manchester City’s fanbase — declaring he’ll leave if the love fades. Amidst his most challenging period as a manager, despite recently extending his contract with the reigning champions for two more years, Guardiola hasn’t shied away from admitting his readiness to depart if he senses it’s necessary.

After a string of five consecutive defeats and squandering a significant Champions League advantage against Feyenoord, Guardiola’s men are set to face Liverpool — a loss now would place them a daunting 11 points adrift of the leaders. Reflecting on his bold decision to leave Barcelona, even with legends like Messi and Iniesta in his squad, Guardiola conveyed a firm message: “I was in Barcelona. I would say my club, where I was born. I was there for four years, 14 titles. I had Messi, the best player ever. Neymar was coming – and I said ‘I’m leaving’.

“People asked ‘why are you leaving your hometown with this generational player and with Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, all the players that changed the world, won World Cups and European Cups?’

“I left because I felt it – and here is the same. If I extend, it’s because I feel it. I’m not sitting here just for what I’ve done.”

Emphasising his contentment yet openness to change, Guardiola insisted: “Still I’m happy, still I want to try. But I don’t want to stay in the place where I feel I’m a problem. I don’t want to just because the contract is there.

“My chairman knows it. I asked him to give me the chance to try to come back – especially when everybody comes back (from injury) and you see what happens.

“It would have been easy for me to go while we were doing well, but I don’t want to now. I had the feeling that I still have a job to do and I want to do it. I want to do it.”