Pep Guardiola says he is yet to decide if he will stay at Manchester City as he enters the final year of his contract.
At the end of last season, after becoming the first manager to win a fourth straight Premier League title, Guardiola said he was “closer to leaving than staying” - but he has stressed that he could yet extend his stay at the Etihad Stadium.
“Maybe I was not correct to say it in the right moment when we won the Premier League, but I’m saying I’ve been eight years in Man City so I won’t be eight more years,” said Guardiola during City’s tour of the US. “That’s why I’m closer to leaving than to staying.
“But I didn’t say I’m leaving - never ever. I would say. When I’m leaving, I’ll say, ‘I’m leaving.’ But I didn’t say that.
“We spoke with the club and said it’s a lot of years, so we’ll see what happens. But I’ve not ruled it out absolutely to extend the contract. I would love to stay because I would love to stay.
“Nine years today in the same club is an eternity. And I want to be sure that it’s the right decision, not just for me but the club and the players - that still they [would] run like they’ve already run for eight years.
“It doesn’t matter the competition, the tournament, this is what I have to see. I am sure eight more years I won’t stay! It’s good to refresh, for players and managers.
“At the same time we have had success and are still winning Premier Leagues, arriving in the last stages and we are playing competitions like the Champions League. This is my feeling right now.”
Man City are next in pre-season action when they face AC Milan on Saturday at 23:00 BST, at Yankee Stadium in New York.
