Sport
Guardiola’s new deal: here’s what happens if Manchester City get relegated
The current Manchester City boss will commit to the club for another year even if they go under.
Pep Guardiola is close to signing a contract extension with Manchester City, which will keep him at the club for another year. The Catalan coach will have spent a decade in the Premier League side when his new contract expires in the summer of 2026.
Although the team has enjoyed unprecedented success under Guardiola, the waters have not always been smooth. There are more than 100 charges pending against the club for various financial reasons and numerous possible punishments looming if found guilty.
Can Manchester City be relegated?
One of the possible consequences of financial mismanagement is relegation from the Premier League. In fact it is more: the Premier League would expel City from the English top division and the club would have to be admitted to the Championship, as the two leagues do not form one coherent entity (for what it's worth: not be admitted to the championship is indeed unlikely given the benefits they would bring to the competition as a product for viewers, but it could happen in theory).
Such harsh punishments have left several players unsettled, with some even suggesting quick exit clauses be included in contracts if the Premier League kicks City out once doomsday arrives.
However, reports from Manchester claim that Pep Guardiola has no such clause in his contract, meaning he would still be in charge if City were playing in the second division while he is still manager.
Guardiola himself has spoken about the situation in the past, saying: “I will answer when I have the penalty.
'You ask questions as if we have been punished. And right now, we are innocent until proven guilty. I know people want it. I know it, I feel it. I'll wait. Just wait and see, after the verdict is pronounced, we'll come here and explain. But I definitely won't think about my future [if] it depends if you are here [Premier League] or being in League One. Absolute. There is more chance of staying if we are in League One than if we are in the Champions League.”