Pep Guardiola hinted at his future with Manchester City during a passionate press conference, praising the club's environment and support. His comments come amid speculation about his potential departure this summer.
Key points
Guardiola praised Manchester City's environment.
He highlighted player care and support from the CEO.
Speculation exists about his potential departure this summer.
Comments were made before the Premier League match against Everton.
Mentioned in this story
Pep GuardiolaAymeric Laporte
Manchester CityEvertonPremier League
Pep Guardiola drops Manchester City future hint in passionate Everton press conference speech
Pep Guardiola drops Manchester City future hint in passionate Everton press conference speech
Guardiola: I wouldnât have stayed 10 years at City without the clubâs extraordinary environment
Man City boss cites player care, food, CEO matchday presence & Covid conduct as examples
Guardiolaâs comments come amid widespread speculation that he will leave the club this summer
Pep Guardiola has delivered one of the most revealing tributes to Manchester City as a club that he has ever given publicly, with his words reading very much like those of a man who is not going anywhere.
The comments came in Guardiolaâs press conference on Friday ahead of Mondayâs Premier League trip to Everton, prompted in part by recent remarks from former City defender Aymeric Laporte.
In a recent interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Laporte said he âregretted leaving because I was at the best club in the worldâ and that âthe way they take care of their players there is unique, you only realise it when you leave.â
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Guardiola used Laporteâs words as a springboard to speak at length about what makes Manchester City the club it is â and his answer touched on everything from the Player Care department to the clubâs classy conduct with employees during the COVID-19 pandemic.
With reports suggesting Guardiola is likely to leave City this summer and a decision expected before the end of May, the 55-year-oldâs words pointed firmly in the other direction.
Q&A
What did Pep Guardiola say about his future at Manchester City?
Pep Guardiola expressed that he wouldn't have stayed for 10 years at the club without its extraordinary environment, suggesting he is not planning to leave.
Why is there speculation about Guardiola leaving Manchester City?
Speculation about Guardiola's departure has arisen due to recent comments from former City defender Aymeric Laporte and the timing of his press conference.
What factors did Guardiola highlight as reasons for his loyalty to Manchester City?
Guardiola cited player care, food quality, the CEO's presence on matchdays, and the club's conduct during Covid as key factors in his loyalty.
When is Manchester City's next match and who are they playing?
Manchester City's next match is on Monday against Everton in the Premier League.
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I still have incredible energy to be here, says Pep
Guardiola began by referencing Laporteâs comments directly, using them to explain his own decade-long commitment to the club.
âToday Aymeric Laporte, that was another player that helped us incredibly a lot to understand what you have to do from behind, build-ups, committing, and this kind of stuff, in a newspaper in Spain said, âCity is the best club in the world, you never realise how good they are, how incredibly organised until you leaveâ,â he said.
âThat is the biggest compliment we can get; the players can leave and say that place was incredible. And I have the same feeling. I wouldnât have been 10 years even with good titles or prizes if I donât have an incredible environment. Now I still have incredible energy, still Iâm so good to be here, coming here to work today on my day off.
âOf course we are here because we won a lot and thatâs why they donât fire you because they continue to trust you because you have success. Despite that, or part of that, the club is really, really extraordinary. And I loved when Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) came back from Barcelona and said, âMan City is topâ. When that happens, we are in a good way.
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âThatâs why we are consistent, every year in the Champions League for the last 12, 13, 14 years, thatâs why weâre always fighting for the titles, because they are consistent around the tactics, the systems, the players, the managers. Itâs like a bubble that people feel good.â
Guardiola: No one can complain, not even once
Guardiola then went into specific detail about the elements of Cityâs infrastructure that he believes set the club apart, singling out the Player Care department by name.
âThe Player Care department, for example,â the Catalan added. âI donât know if it exists in other clubs, this department is unbelievable. Claire (Marsden, Head of First-Team Player Support), all the people, itâs unbelievable.
âThat means you need something for the family, you need to send flowers to your mum or whatever, always they can help you. The food is exceptional, the cooks are top, I have my CEO, my chairman in the day of the game, theyâre there, supporting all the time. Itâs a big club, but here itâs a family.
âAfter that, there are disappointments, especially the play. But the only I say to the club, âTry to the players to be disappointed because they donât play, not for the restâ. For the rest, no one can complain. No one. They donât complain.
âAnother one; in Covid time. How many in all around the world, in the clubs, how many people were fired or â I donât know the right word in English. Here, not even once. The same salary, the same, no reduction, not even that. The same.
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âIn the toughest moment in our lives, always there, not even once in that building and the other building was out â the same. Many examples. Itâs really, really good. Extraordinary club.â
For a man whose future has been the subject of constant speculation in recent weeks, Guardiolaâs words carry a weight that goes beyond a simple press conference answer.
Whether they represent a definitive hint that he is staying remains to be seen but they are not the words of someone counting down the days.
