Manager has shut down exit talks, but may simply be following the same playbook as Sir Alex Ferguson
Pep Guardiola has refused to clarify his future at Manchester City amid ongoing speculation about whether he could leave before his contract expires in 2027.
Reports in March had suggested Guardiola would use the international break to decide if he intends to remain at the club. City insiders say they expect him to stay for next season, but there is an understanding that a departure this summer would not come as a major surprise.
The manager may in fact be delaying the announcement of an already decided departure to avoid disrupting City’s season, similar to what Sir Alex Ferguson did when he was retiring in 2013. City are currently pursuing two trophies: the FA Cup and the Premier League title, where they are already losing a race with Arsenal.
Speaking on Friday ahead of his side’s FA Cup quarter-final game against Liverpool, Guardiola avoided giving any indication of his plans, saying he had “spoken many times about that”.
Despite Liverpool’s inconsistent recent form and the distraction of an upcoming Champions League trip to Paris Saint-Germain, Guardiola warned his players not to underestimate Arne Slot’s side.
“They have been the biggest rival,” Guardiola said. “It is a team that made an incredible investment last season to be there for many years.
“They are a top contender with top class players. Hopefully we can perform at the level that we did against Arsenal to reach the next step.”
