Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has said he has no regrets about signing a two-year contract extension despite the club’s struggles on the pitch.
Man City have just one win in six games in all competitions since the Spanish manager’s new contract was unveiled last month, keeping him at the club until 2027.
After a string of disappointing Premier League performances, the reigning champions find themselves fifth on 27 points, behind Liverpool on nine.
They are already out of the Carabao Cup and are 22nd in the Champions League table after a 2-0 loss to Juventus, with only the top 24 avoiding elimination.
Guardiola admitted his side’s recent form has affected his sleep and diet, but added he has no regrets extending his contract, which could extend his time at City to 11 years.
“Absolutely not,” Guardiola said when asked if he regretted his commitment to the club.
“I wouldn’t be able to sleep – even worse than now – if I thought I would leave when the club is in this situation. Impossible. They might sack me, it could happen. But to leave now, in this position? No chance .”
Guardiola joined the Abu Dhabi-owned club in 2016 from Bayern Munich and has guided them to 18 major trophies.
Having claimed a historic treble, including a long-awaited Champions League trophy in 2023, Guardiola believes his legacy at the club is secure.
However, the 53-year-old remains ambitious to keep his team among world football’s elite.
“What we have done, we have done. The satisfaction of doing it is done. It is completed,” Guardiola said. “The way we’ve played, the numbers, everything. It’s always going to be there.”
Guardiola added that his confidence has not been affected by the slump and that he would not shy away from the challenge that has presented itself.
“In this situation, I couldn’t leave. There are many things we have to do. Nothing is forever. You have to be honest. If I lose and lose and lose, more and more, I finally say: ‘Guys, you have to get someone else to fix this,” he said.
“But I don’t feel that. I don’t know in (another) big club, if you play 10 games and lose seven, if they have the confidence that I have. But the club knows what we have done before and that the situation is exceptional for many reasons .”
City host Manchester United on Sunday in the first meeting between the clubs since Ruben Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag as head coach.
