I’d love a new deal but I have to earn it
IMPROVING CITY KEY TO GUARDIOLA STAYING
WOLVES V MAN CITY 8.15PM
PEP GUARDIOLA has handed Manchester City a major boost before tonight’s Premier League opener – by declaring his desire to sign a new deal.
Guardiola, who has taken City to record- breaking heights in his four seasons in charge, has entered the final year of his contract.
The Catalan has never stayed at a club longer than four years, meaning his City tenure is now the longest of his glittering managerial career.
But Guardiola has eased any fears City fans may have had about him waving farewell at the end of this season, by revealing his desire to extend his stay at the club – but only if he earns it.
“I would love to stay longer here,” said the 49- year- old, whose side travel to Wolves tonight. “It’s a place I love to be but I have to deserve it.
“This club achieved standards in the last decade but we have to maintain that and I have to deserve it.
“I’m going to see if I deserve it this season, in terms of how the club goes forward and improves.
“I would not be here if I didn’t feel the fire or the desire to play good.
“I still want to help the players avoid making mistakes and still I have the passion to do it, maybe more than ever. I want to try to be together and have a good season.”
Guardiola has daily dialogue with sporting director Txiki Begiristain and chief executive Ferran Soriano and insisted there is no panic over him having already entered the final year of his deal.
“We have, every three days, a game, so we don’t have much time to think about it,” said Guardiola. “I try to see Txiki and Ferran every day, and
I speak every week with Khaldoon [ Al Mubarak, City chairman].
“When it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.
Now we have other issues. It will not be a problem for the club to do what we have to do in the future.”
On the eve of City’s opener, Guardiola criticised the decision to cut the number of substitutes, claiming the move was detrimental to player welfare.
“I don’t understand why, in this incredible schedule we have after the pandemic, when we finished the season late and started quickly, how we cannot protect the players with five substitutions, instead we stick to three,” said Guardiola.
“When the argument is that it favours the top five or top six, it’s because the people don’t understand absolutely anything.
“The guys who play below the top five or six teams, they have the same problem as all of them – they have games every three days.
“There’s a way to protect the players. We have to protect the business, yes, but we have to protect the players.
“With five substitutions, we protect the players but I don’t decide these kinds of situations.”
Guardiola revealed midfielder Fernandinho – who has converted to centre- back – is City’s new captain, after David Silva left at the end of last season.
“He’s always the guy that leads in the bad moments,” said the manager. “The locker room decided that Fernandinho is captain.”
WOLVES ( 3- 5- 2): Patricio; Boly, Coady, Saiss; Traore, Moutinho, Dendoncker, Neves, Marcal; Podence, Jimenez.
MAN CITY ( 4- 3- 3): Ederson; Walker, Fernandinho, Ake, Mendy; De Bruyne, Rodri, Foden; Sterling, Jesus, Mahrez.
TV: Sky Sports.