Pep Guardiola offers clarification on Manchester City exit comments | OneFootball

Manchester City supporters may be breathing a sigh of relief after Pep Guardiola clarified comments to ESPN Brasil concerning his future at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola has often spoken about taking a break from management when he does depart from Manchester City, having led the Blues to a plethora of domestic success and their maiden Champions League title in the historic 2022-23 treble-winning campaign.

The 54-year-old committed his future to Manchester City by signing a fresh two-year deal in the fall of 2024 that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2026-27 season ahead of a major rebuild of his squad this summer.

In an interview with ESPN Brasil this week, the Catalan touched on his desire to take some time away from management after years of competing at the highest level at the Etihad Stadium and being right in the thick of several successful Premier League winning campaigns against the likes of Jurgen Klopp and Mikel Arteta.

Speaking with Sky Sports ahead of Manchester City’s crunch Premier League clash with Wolves at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night, Pep Guardiola was asked for some further clarification around his comments.

“No, no, no I didn’t say I’m leaving now or at the end of the season. Well, if they sack me, yes. But I’m saying when I finish my time here, I don’t know in one year, two years, three years, four years, five years, six years – I don’t know – I will take a break,” Guardiola confirmed.

The 54-year-old continued: “I won’t retire but I will take a break, for sure… Do you know what in football means to have a two-year contract with managers? It’s an eternity! What I’m saying is when I finish here, I will take a break. I need to make a stop, that’s all. But still we are here to beat Wolves.”

Pundit Micah Richards was keen to gauge Pep Guardiola’s opinion on spending another 10 years as Manchester City manager, to which the Catalan head coach quickly responded: “It’s not going to happen.”

Guardiola has raved about the setup he has had around him at the Etihad Stadium and showered praise on the Manchester City board’s unwavering support for him over the years as the Blues chased their first-ever Champions League title.

The Spaniard has himself admitted he wouldn’t have ever thought of staying at Manchester City for over four or five years when he was first appointed manager in the summer of 2016, succeeding Manuel Pellegrini and building a new-look side with a stylish brand of football.

The Brazil job has often been a strong link with Guardiola and the Manchester City boss has admitted managing a National Team is the next item on his bucket list but City fans can fully expect the man in charge to persist and carry on for at least a few more seasons till the end of his current deal.