“If we get relegated, I will be here” – Pep on Man City’s FFP charges after signing new contract

“If we get relegated, I will be here” – That s what Pep Guardiola said on Man City’s FFP charges after signing a new contract.

Pep Guardiola has stated that he intends to continue as the manager of Man City, regardless of the outcome of the ongoing investigation into alleged violations of financial regulations, which could result in relegation as a consequence.

The club is currently facing 115 charges related to purported breaches of financial rules, with a decision anticipated to be announced by next spring.

If found guilty of significant infractions, one of the possible sanctions discussed is relegation to the Championship.

Guardiola, who has been at the helm of City since 2016, provided a significant boost on Thursday by signing a contract extension that will secure his position until the summer of 2027.

“If we get relegated, I will be here”

Pep Guardiola when asked about Manchester City’s FFP charges after committing his future to the club until 2026 🗣 pic.twitter.com/Dpie2Mjhov

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) November 22, 2024

“I said that six months ago. If we get relegated, I will be here and next year we’re going to come up to the Premier League.”

Regardless of the pending decision of their 115 charges, Pep is committed to City 🫡 pic.twitter.com/AIWTCtgC2K

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) November 22, 2024

Guardiola admitted rivals’ presumption of Man City’s guilt played a part in his decision this week to extend his contract. ‘I read something about how we need to be relegated immediately,’ he said.

’75 per cent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and this sort of stuff.

‘I prefer not to be in that position but once it’s there I love it — because you believe in your club and the people there. I believe what they say to me (about the alleged breaches) and the reasons why. We’re awaiting the sentence in February or March.

‘What happens if we are relegated? I will be here. I don’t know the position they are going to bring us. The Conference?

‘But we will come up and come up and come back to the Premier League. I feel it.’

Pep Guardiola said during his press conference, on signing a contract extension: “I felt I should stay here. Of course, because they want me. For obvious reasons, for the results and because we’ve known each other for a long time.

“All my decisions have been like that, what I feel in the moment. I don’t pre-convince, I wait. I decided to stay here and in just two hours we did it (agreed the contract).”

On why he signed for another two years, rather than just one: “For the weather.

“Mainly, I don’t want next season in September, October, November, to be ‘is this the last year of Pep? Will he extend again?’ That was the main reason, I don’t want to be in that position.

“In the end, the contract is there. I would like to stay two more years, but I know that if results are not good it won’t be two years.

“It’s the same with the players. We have some incredible, legendary players here but you have to perform. if you don’t perform, our owner, chairman and fans will say ‘what’s going on? We have to change’. Everyone is under pressure, with me the first.

“Maybe it’s a little bit arrogant but I think we deserve to continue, for what we have done in the last years. But at the same time, we have to do it again, we have to be up there. If we’re not, the club has to find a solution.”

Guardiola on committing to staying until after the decision on the 115 charges the club is facing is announced: “I said that six months ago. If we get relegated, I will be here and next year we’re going to come up to the Premier League. I knew it then, I feel it now.”

On how much the four straight defeats have weighed on him: “When you are here for nine years, with a long time at one club, you live all the scenarios, all the situations.

“You’re able to lose four games in a row, but at the same time you’re able to win four Premier Leagues in a row. The difference is that most of the teams are able to lose four games in a row in different competitions but just one team won four Premier Leagues in a row. So it’s happened.

“Did it happen in one season? No. When you’ve been somewhere eight or nine years, yeah, both sides of the run can happen.”

On playing against Tottenham again, after they inflicted the first defeat of City’s losing run in the EFL Cup: “We have to break the situation. We have to start winning games, we know it.

“Tomorrow, with Rodri coming back, since the Ballon d’Or we could not see him and congratulate him.

“We are coming back at home so hopefully we can perform well and start to take our rhythm.”

On Rodri being at Saturday’s game: “It’s nice to see Rodri back. He had surgery and it’s normal for him to stay with his family, for the first steps. I think in January he will come back here to make his recovery but from what I hear from the doctors is that it is going really well.

“His mood is good. It’s unique in our club, a player to come here and get this amazing award, and it will be nice to share it with our people.”

Pep Guardiola said explained to the club website the reason for signing a contract extension was that he simply couldn’t leave Manchester City now.

“I felt I could not leave now, simple as that,” he said in his City Studios interview after signing the new deal.

“Don’t ask me the reason why. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why and I felt I cannot leave. I felt the club still want me or had the fact that we were together and that’s the reason why we sign.”

On being at the Club for so long, he feels there is even more to accomplish.

“Firstly it’s because we won a lot otherwise you do not stay 11 years not even here in a place where I feel love,” Pep added.

“Here is a business and you have to win and have a contract but I know if you don’t win maybe I would not continue.

“I enjoy being here. I like my job. I like being the manager of this Club.

“I said many times from many many years ago, the moment I will not have that feeling, even under contract, I will ring my chairman and CEO and say the best for the Club right now is I have to leave.

“I don’ have that feeling right now and that’s why I extended a little bit longer.”

Guardiola says there are many reasons for City’s success.

“I think the hierarchy is so stable, the Club is so, so stable in many departments and everyone knows the quality of the players we have in this decade – nine, ten, eleven years,” he said.

“I don’t forget my first season here with the players, I had in that moment so that helped me a lot to understand the Club, the team, the Premier League and many, many things and all of them were involved.

“I didn’t have the feeling that the reason why is a specific reason – there are many reasons why we have a lot of success.”

MAN CITY STATEMENT:

Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract extension with Manchester City.

The Catalan’s new deal means he will spend more than a decade as City manager.

Guardiola’s time at City is one laden with success. He has so far won 18 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and one UEFA Champions League.

By winning the Premier League title last season, City became the first men’s team in the history of English football to win four top-flight titles in a row.

And the previous campaign had seen Guardiola lead City to a magnificent Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in what was the greatest season in our 130-year history.

Under his stewardship, City also became the first team in Premier League history to manage 100 points in a single season (2017/18) and the first in English football to win all four domestic trophies (2018/19).

His overall record is remarkable. Across all competitions, he has won 353 of the 490 matches he has overseen, giving him an outstanding win percentage of 72%, with City scoring 1,200 goals during that period at an average of 2.45 goals per game.

Guardiola’s 490 matches in charge mean only Les McDowall – who managed 587 between 1950 and 1963 – is ahead of Pep on the Club’s all-time list of most games managed.

There is now a possibility Guardiola, who is the longest-serving manager in the Premier League, will surpass McDowall’s total before the end of next season, given our involvement in this summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the USA.

In light of the news, City Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak praised Guardiola’s leadership and spoke of his delight at the manager’s decision to stay in Manchester for two more years.

“Like every City fan, I am delighted that Pep’s journey with Manchester City will continue; allowing his dedication, passion and innovative thinking to continue to shape the landscape of the game.

“His hunger for improvement and success remains insatiable and the direct beneficiaries of that will continue to be our players and coaching staff, the culture of our Club, and the English game at large.

“This renewal will take Pep beyond a decade of coaching Manchester City and the opportunity to continue to re-write the managerial record books.”

Guardiola added: “Manchester City means so much to me.

“This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club.

“That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.

“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and of course the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.

“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much.

“Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”

Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Pep and wish him the very best with the remainder of his time at the Club.

– STATEMENTS ENDS –

“If we get relegated, I will be here” – Here’s how fans reacted as Pep on Man City’s FFP charges after signing a new contract…

@hattrickmac: Didn’t he say he would leave if they were found guilty last year?

@williamzuri: Didn’t he say that he would leave if the club lied to him? Wouldn’t relegation mean they were found guilty? If they’re found guilty wouldn’t that mean they lied to him?

@GarethFox: I swear he said before if the club lied to him he would leave

@Wally_S10: Hypocrite and money clearly talks. He himself said previously if I’ve been lied to I’ll not be here the next day. He’s also advised he’ll be here even if relegated…..well it doesn’t add up does it, if you’re relegated, your club were lying to you, money talks though

@Moneski_DC_: If they were relegated, he’s going to championship and bring back man city to premier league the following season

@Jamie7993: Very confident they’ve done nothing wrong then 😂

@Joeythemoon87: Somebody bookmark this

@MUFC_James1: Didn’t this guy said if he was lied to by the owners about the ffp he would leave. He’s clearly been told something

@_LewisLFC: Why would he leave lol, he’s getting paid ridiculous money whether they win the premier league or win league two.

@calster1520: Let’s be honest City have told him something. Reassured him they will win otherwise I think he’d leave. Can’t see them getting punished now.

@KevinJones315: Bet he won’t be

@RICKYAFC1980: Yeah sure he will 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@murphy__1985: Good joke Pep…