‘The results help’: Pep Guardiola expects Manchester City tenure to be his longest
Pep Guardiola has said he cannot imagine staying at another club for as long as he has been at Manchester City as he weighs up whether to extend his contract beyond this season.
“Stay in another place for seven years?” he said. “No, I don’t think so. It is difficult to find what I have here as a manager. To be a manager for a long time you need to be so supported. The results help a lot; that is undeniable.
“In this world they sack you, they fire you, we know that. But at big clubs the part of the success of the manager is the chairman, the sporting director especially, and all the people here. It [this support] goes to the media, fans and players. It shows stability. This is why I think only in a few clubs this can happen.”
Asked whether he would discuss a new contract when taking a break during the World Cup, Guardiola said: “I don’t talk about that. Everything is under control, it’s perfect, the decision will be made together with the club the moment it has to be made. I said many times, I had the feeling that both the club and myself are happy to be together.
“It’s not the moment [for this]. Brentford is the only important thing right now. When we have time, when we feel it is the right moment, both sides, we take a decision.”
Guardiola was clear regarding what still motivates him at City after claiming nine major trophies since taking over in 2016. “Having fun,” he said. “There are stressful moments and bad moments – it’s not all the time that you win, all the time you’re happy and all the time it works like you’re thinking [hoping]. But it’s not about achievements after six or seven years, it’s seeing you are comfortable being here.”
Erling Haaland faces a fitness test on his ankle injury before Brentford’s visit for Saturday’s early game.