Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said he would not forgive himself if he left the Premier League club during a difficult period.
Guardiola has won 18 major trophies during his time at City, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023, but they have struggled for form in the 2024-25 season and are 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Although results during the current season were not at the usual level, Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension in November, which will keep him in the dugout at the Etihad until 2027.
The new contract will give Guardiola more than a decade at the club, making him City's longest-serving manager since Les McDowall in 1963.
“Sometimes we don't appreciate or undermine the fact that we are suffering. That's life,” Guardiola told Sky Sports.
“People always think that we have to be happy all the time, we have to show on social media how happy we are. That's a mistake. Life is always up and down and if it happens, it happens, and of course it happens .it's a big challenge.
“I'm here, so if I feel like I can't cope, the club wouldn't forgive myself if I said I'm leaving now. I wouldn't forgive myself.”
An unforgettable comeback, one year ago today pic.twitter.com/NxqNdkG4jw
— Manchester City (@ManCity) January 13, 2025
Guardiola's side look on course to return to their best and are on a four-match unbeaten run in the league ahead of their meeting with Ipswich Town, although they lost a 2-0 lead against Brentford by drawing last time out to play.
There was more good news for City this week as Erling Haaland signed a long-term contract that will keep him at the Etihad until 2034.
“Absolutely, that doesn't mean it will recover. I don't know, but at least I won't regret for a second that I didn't try it. Not for a second. And I work and I try to do it. Not for a second, impossible,” Guardiola added.
“I think the majority of players want to do it. The majority of players want to try because I know how they run and how they suffer. But suffering is part of life, it's never perfect. That's life itself .
“You can't win all the competitions you play for just one reason: because it's impossible! Even for me it's impossible. But in terms of the whole period I've been here over 500 matches, 485 or 490 have been won .” a dream come true, it has been paradise.
“Maybe we had one bad season, or two bad seasons. That's what happens in life. So we overestimate success in life too much, too much. We're trying to get back with the club and we'll do our best doing.”
City were beaten in the last 16 in the EFL Cup by Tottenham, but are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, where they will face Leyton Orient.
They face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Wednesday and have their work cut out for them in Europe, having collected just eight points from six games this season.
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