Pep Guardiola expressed uncertainty about his future at Manchester City despite their historic fourth consecutive Premier League title win. While celebrating City’s sixth top-flight title in seven seasons under his leadership, Guardiola admitted that maintaining motivation after such sustained success is challenging.
Guardiola’s tenure at City has been marked by remarkable achievements, including winning the domestic treble in 2019 and emulating Manchester United’s treble of Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League victories in 2021.
City’s recent title win also makes them the first English side to win four consecutive league titles, surpassing the accomplishments of legendary teams like Liverpool and Manchester United.
In the upcoming FA Cup final against Manchester United, City will aim to secure back-to-back domestic doubles, a feat never achieved before by an English side.
Despite these successes, Guardiola’s long-term future at City remains uncertain. The 53-year-old, whose contract runs until the end of next season, has yet to clarify his plans beyond that point.
“Right now my feeling is I want to stay next season. We talked with the club, we have time to talk next season because I have to see the players as well (to see) if they follow me, they follow us, for many reasons. I will stay and during the season we will talk when calm.”
Asked at his post-match press conference whether he felt as though he had “completed English football” and what he felt was left to achieve, Guardiola shrugged his shoulders and said: “I had that feeling last season.
“When we won in Istanbul (in the Champions League final) I said, ‘It’s over, what am I doing here? It’s over, there’s nothing left’.
“But I have a contract, I’m here and still enjoying. Some of the moments I’m a bit tired but some of the moments I love, and after I said ‘OK, we are here’.
“We start winning games, playing good, different players, new players and I start to think about ‘No one has done four in a row, why don’t we try?’ And now I feel ‘It’s done, so what next?’ I don’t know right now.”
He added: “Next season, right now, I’m not able to know exactly what will be the motivation to do it because it’s difficult sometimes to find it when everything is done.”
Guardiola said for now he was enjoying basking in the glow of another Premier League triumph.
“When I moved here if someone had said I would win six leagues in seven seasons I would say you’re insane — no way,” he said.