Pep Guardiola: Man City boss signs two-year contract extension

Pep Guardiola has said that Manchester City's recent problems have contributed to his decision to sign a new two-year contract, extending his stay as manager to more than a decade.

The 53-year-old's previous City contract expired at the end of this season.

Guardiola, who has won 18 trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League at the Etihad, admitted that although he was considering leaving at the end of the season, City's recent four-match losing streak was partly a factor in the defeat. his decision to extend his stay at the club.

“Since the start of the season I have thought a lot. There were some moments. I have to be honest. I thought this should be the last one because everyone is…,” he told the club's website.

“But at the same time, when the situation happened and the problems we had in the last month, I felt that this is not the time to leave. I would be letting the club down and I felt like I had to do it.

“Don't ask me why. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt like I couldn't leave. I felt like the club still wanted me or that we were together and that's why we signed.”

“Manchester City means so much to me. This is my ninth season here; we have had so many great times together. I have a very special feeling for this football club.

“That's why I'm so happy that I'm staying for two more seasons.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to trust and support me – the owner, the chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and of course the fans… everyone associated with Manchester City. It is always an honour, a pleasure and a privilege been to be here.

“I've said this before, but I have everything a manager could want and I really appreciate that. Hopefully we can now add more trophies to the trophies we have already won. That will be my focus.”

Speculation over Guardiola's future, which had been rife for several months, had increased significantly after the club confirmed that director of football Txiki Begiristain would leave at the end of the season.

Begiristain, a long-time ally of Guardiola, will be replaced by Sporting's Hugo Viana, a former Newcastle player.

Ending the uncertainty over Guardiola's position will prevent further disruption next summer, at a time when the club will also be participating in the Club World Cup.

The news comes at a crucial time in City's season. Hampered by injuries, the champions' form has faltered of late, with the team losing their last four games in all competitions, the worst run of Guardiola's career.

It has been a difficult campaign off the pitch too, with the club facing 115 charges for allegedly breaching Premier League rules following an investigation into their financial affairs.

Guardiola succeeded Manuel Pellegrini at City eight years ago, after previous successful spells in charge of Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Meanwhile, City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak spoke of his delight at the manager's decision to stay in Manchester for another two years.

“Like every City fan, I am thrilled that Pep's journey with Manchester City continues, allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game,” he told the club's website.

“His appetite for improvement and success remains insatiable and its direct beneficiaries will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our club and the English game in general.

“This renewal will take Pep beyond a decade of coaching Manchester City and the opportunity to continue rewriting the managerial record books.”

'Pep felt it was not the right time to leave Man City'

Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom:

“I think the timing of the news came as a surprise. As this season progressed, we got the feeling that Pep was more inclined to stay.

“This is his ninth season, so he's not going to do another nine, of course not. But when he says that, to be in that reflective mood, to probably see this team and the way it's evolved and where they standing now, he had a lot to think about.

“His family still lives in Catalonia and Barcelona. That would have been a big draw, taking him to Spain. But then there is the job and the club that he absolutely loves.”

“And Pep has a loyalty to Manchester City, we have seen that. He clearly loves his job. He loves the challenge of trying to win the Premier League.”

And I think that's what put him over the edge into wanting to stay. Especially his good friendship with Txiki Begiristain. We know he'll leave at the end of the season.

“We know that Hugo Viana is coming into this kind of sporting director/director of football. That's a new relationship. It's a new era. It's a new challenge. And I think Pep must have felt that by now leave, that wasn't.” I'm not doing the right thing at the club. They need him.

“They need someone they can rely on. And if you look at his record, of course they can rely on Pep.”