City’s manager “happy” at the Etihad and eager to honour his contract
Pep Guardiola has shut down talk of an imminent exit from Manchester City this summer, despite rumours linking Enzo Maresca with his job.
Chelsea boss Maresca left Stamford Bridge this week following revelations that he had held discussions with figures connected to City about a potential future role. Maresca, a former Guardiola assistant, departed after those talks angered Chelsea’s hierarchy.
Ahead of City’s Premier League meeting with Chelsea on Sunday, Guardiola was quick to emphasise that there was no vacancy to fill.
“I have a contract, I’ve said it a thousand million times,” Guardiola said. “I will leave one day, I promise, but I have a contract, I’m happy, I want to fight with my team. The hierarchy respects me. They proved it last season when we didn’t win one game in two, three months and they still supported me.”
Guardiola, who will mark a decade in charge this year, has 18 months left on his current deal. City are understood to have long-term succession plans but the Spaniard stressed his focus remains firmly on the present.
“I like to be here,” he added. “So we will see. We will see.”
Asked directly about Maresca’s reported conversations with City-linked figures, Guardiola distanced himself from the issue. “No idea,” he said. “I’m pretty sure you have more information than me.”
Despite the circumstances, Guardiola was generous in his assessment of Maresca, describing Chelsea’s former head coach as a significant loss.
“From my point of view, Chelsea lose an incredible, incredible manager,” Guardiola said. “An incredible person. But it’s a decision from the hierarchy from Chelsea.”
