Slot can’t hide true feelings on Pep Guardiola signing new Man City deal

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has insisted that Pep Guardiola signing a new contract with Manchester City was “good news” for the Premier League.

Guardiola has put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with City, meaning his time at Etihad will last more than ten years. The legendary coach explained that four defeats in a row had prompted him to commit to the club and help them recover.

Liverpool are yet to play Manchester City this season, but a big match is coming up against their title rivals on December 1 – with Slot set to face Guardiola for the first time – with City aiming to close the five-point gap between the sides.

Slot said he was pleased to hear that Guardiola would remain his rival in the dugout for the next two years, and that this would ensure the Premier League remains the most exciting in the world.

“That's good news for City first and foremost, and it's also good news for the league because I think everyone here wants to have the best possible managers and the best players,” he said.

“He is certainly one of the best managers in the league, if not the best when you look at what he did. Four times champions in a row, it is fair to say he is perhaps the best manager in the league. is good for City fans and interesting for us to continue to compete against one of the best managers football has ever had.”

However, he stressed that City are so well managed and full of talent that they would find a way to be successful even if Guardiola chose to leave.

“It's a good thing but on the other hand City have so many quality players that if he made the choice to leave the club I would never expect them to be bottom of the league next season,” he said.

Guardiola is City's most successful manager of all time, having won six Premier League titles, nine domestic trophies and the Champions League in 2023.

He has won every piece of silverware up for grabs – including the Club World Cup – but the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said he was aiming to add even more honors to his trophy cabinet.

“This is my ninth season here,” Guardiola said. “We have had so many great times together. I have a very special feeling for this football club. Hopefully we can now add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”