Pep Guardiola is set to remain as Manchester City manager for at least one more season, according to reports. Reports suggest that Guardiola will sign a one-year extension to his current contract, which will expire at the end of this season, with an option to extend for an additional year. The 53-year-old has previously committed to City twice through contract extensions, both finalized during November international breaks.
Guardiola’s potential extension comes during a challenging time for City, as the club faces an ongoing inquiry into 115 alleged breaches of Premier League financial regulations, fueling speculation about his future. Further uncertainty arises with the impending departure of City’s director of football, Txiki Begiristain, at the end of the season.
As reported by The Athletic, the deal includes an optional extra year, potentially extending Guardiola’s time at Manchester City to over a decade. Speculation about his departure has been laid to rest, with an official announcement anticipated soon.
City endured a rocky start to the season, losing four consecutive games before the final international break of the year. However, given Guardiola’s track record, dismissing his side would be unwise. Having won four consecutive Premier League titles and six out of the last seven, along with a historic treble in 2022–23, City remains a top contender for this year’s league title and a deep Champions League run. In recent seasons, Arsenal has been their closest rival, with last season’s title race extending to the final day.
Despite trailing Liverpool by five points at the top of the Premier League standings, Guardiola dismissed the idea that the recent losing streak reflects poor performance, stating after the Brighton defeat that his team is not “playing bad”. Instead, he attributed the struggles to injuries affecting key players like Jack Grealish, Ruben Dias, and John Stones, as well as the continued unavailability of Oscar Bobb and reigning Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, according to ESPN.
With Guardiola reaffirming his commitment, fans can feel confident that City will not only remain title contenders but also favorites for at least the next two seasons.
The Premier League champions will aim to halt their losing streak on Saturday as they welcome Tottenham to the Etihad Stadium. Guardiola’s men will then shift focus to the Champions League with a clash against Feyenoord, followed by a challenging visit to Anfield to face Liverpool.
Read More: Rumor: Neymar Set for Return to Childhood Team Santos as Al-Hilal Contract Could Be Terminated
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
