Only a few days have passed since Man City's Champions League ban was lifted by the CAS, but the question of Pep Guardiola's future at the club has already returned to the limelight. The Spaniard has opened up about his contract issue at the Etihad Stadium and whether he will remain in Manchester for the foreseeable future.
After the Citizens were smacked with the European ban by UEFA earlier this year, speculation emerged that Pep would leave the club. While this decision was never said to be based solely on the sanction, as the team's poor season was tipped as another factor, the potential lack of Champions League football for two seasons was said to be a driving force.
However, with Man City now out of the woods and clear to compete with the best, will their gaffer be convinced to stay? According to Guardiola, he would not have left the English giants had they even been relegated to League Two as many speculated a while back.
While this is great news for fans of last season's Premier League champions, it should be noted that Pep brushed aside the notion of contract negotiations, stating that now is not the ideal time. This will have some worried as he has only one year left on his contract.
"Now is not the time — we have one incredible month ahead of us, then one year is a long time. We have time to think about that," Pep said, as per the Sun.
"Internally, when I don't like something, I say to my chairman. My chairman is not happy with me if we finish 21 or 23 points behind Liverpool.
"He's not happy with me, but we discuss internally to try and do better next season."
"I love this club. I love it because I know the people here and I'm working for a long time," the former Barcelona and Bayern boss added.
"We have our history. I don't know if it's better or worse, it doesn't matter, it's our history.
"Nothing has changed my opinion, maybe I will be able to stay here longer?
"I said I would stay and it didn't matter if we were in the Champions League. Some people suggested we should play in League Two, I'd have stayed."
With European football now guaranteed next season, Man City are set to go ahead with their summer rebuilding project. A recent report from the Telegraph claimed that the Manchester giants could sign as many as five players this summer, including a center-back, left-back, midfielder, a Leroy Sane replacement, and even a striker.
