Pep Guardiola has refused to confirm whether he will remain at Manchester City beyond next season, despite reports that he has already informed his players of his departure. Speaking after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth that confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions, Guardiola said he would not discuss his future publicly until he has spoken to chairman Khaldoon al-Mubarak and chief executive Ferran Soriano.
“The first person I have to talk to is my chairman because we both decide – we will talk, it is simple as that and after that we will take the decision,” Guardiola explained. He added that he has one year remaining on his contract and described himself as “the happiest man on the planet to be in this club.”
Guardiola hinted that discussions with the City hierarchy are imminent. “Now is a moment with Ferran and my chairman to talk and after that we will see what happens … Next season we will be back, City will be back,” he said. He deflected questions about his future by noting that media speculation during a competition often leads to poor results.
The City boss also paid tribute to Arsenal and his former assistant Mikel Arteta. “We were close. On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League. They deserve it,” Guardiola said. He cited his team’s heavy schedule as a factor in falling short, adding, “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose in the last moment because the opponents are really good.”
Erling Haaland’s late equaliser proved insufficient to prevent Arsenal from securing their first title in 22 years. Meanwhile, Bernardo Silva, who has confirmed he will leave City this summer, stated of his manager: “That’s his decision, that’s his announcement to make if he stays or if he goes. That’s not on me.”
