Guardiola admits he considering leaving but LOSING STREAK convinced him to stay

PEP GUARDIOLA admits he considered leaving Manchester City but their four-match losing streak convinced him to stay.

The Spaniard's contract expires next summer, bringing an end to his nine-year stay at Etihad.

But Guardiola will now stay at City for a decade or more, having agreed a one-year extension with the option of another season.

After arriving in 2016, he enjoyed great success in the Northwest.

Guardiola has guided City to six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four Carabao Cups and a Champions League.

While City became just the second English side to complete a historic modern Treble in the 2022/23 season.

And last season, City became the first ever English team to win four Premier League titles in a row.

But despite still having a star-studded squad, City's current campaign has yet to live up to expectations.

Guardiola has had to do without key figures such as Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne for most of his term so far.

And City's form has taken a huge hit, with the champions losing their last four games in all competitions for the first time since Guardiola's arrival.

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Some outsiders felt this showed the Spaniard had perhaps lost his spark and interest.

But Guardiola insists the opposite, claiming the losing streak is the main reason behind his decision to sign for at least another season.

Guardiola admitted he had considered walking away at the end of the current season, saying: “I felt like I couldn't leave now – it's as simple as that.

“Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt like the club still wanted me.

First of all, because we won a lot, I feel love. But it's a business and you have to win. I have a contract, but I know that if we don't win, I won't continue.

“As soon as it's done, the club will know. And right now we didn't feel it.

“Txiki, Ferran and Khaldoon weren't feeling it, that's why I extended – to stay here and keep doing well.

“Every time I sign the contract I say it's the last two – and we're still here. So honestly, me and my staff deserve to be here. I'm not arrogant to say it, it's the truth.

“We deserve the chance – after four defeats in a row – to come back and try to turn the situation around. I felt like I wanted to make the right decisions for the future.

“I like being here, I like my job. I have often said: as soon as I no longer have that feeling – even with a contract – I will call my chairman, my CEO, and say that the best thing for the club is for me to leave.

“I don't have that feeling now, so I extended it.”