Pep Guardiola says he will stay at City as Maresca links resurface

Pep Guardiola has again played down speech of an imminent exit astatine Manchester City, insisting helium plans to enactment and spot retired his woody adjacent arsenic speculation swirls astir erstwhile adjunct Enzo Maresca.

Guardiola’s declaration runs to the summertime of 2027, and helium said the concern has not changed. The renewed sound has followed Maresca’s abrupt departure from Chelsea connected New Year’s Day and reports that Chelsea judge helium has held talks with City successful caller weeks. City, for their part, proceed to importune determination is nary managerial opening.

Guardiola backs his nine and praises Maresca

Guardiola said Chelsea person taken a large deed by losing Maresca, portion stressing the determination was made supra him.

"The lone [thing] I tin accidental is that Chelsea, I think, from my constituent of view, suffer an incredible, unthinkable manager, unthinkable person.

"But this [is a] determination from the hierarchy from Chelsea, truthful [I have] thing to say.

"In football? Surprise? No. It lone confirms however fortunate I americium successful the nine wherever I am. My nine is extraordinary."

He besides underlined wherefore helium feels settled astatine City, pointing to enactment helium received during a hard tally past season.

"I person a contract. I said a 1000 cardinal times. It's 10 years here, I volition permission 1 time but I person a contract. I'm happy. I privation to combat with my team.

"The hierarchy respect me, that was proved past play with what happened successful this nine -- we didn't triumph 1 crippled successful two, 3 months. They supported me.

"I person 1 much year's contract. I similar to beryllium here, truthful we volition see, you volition see."

Chelsea sojourn City arsenic uncertainty lingers

Chelsea question to the Etihad connected Sunday, nevertheless Guardiola admitted the upheaval astatine Stamford Bridge makes mentation awkward.

"We don't speech overmuch if we don't cognize what the opponent's going to beryllium similar due to the fact that we don't cognize which manager volition beryllium sitting.

"I don't cognize what's going to hap truthful nary interest (about that). Think astir yourself, what you person to do. That's going to assistance america successful 2 pugnacious games similar Chelsea and Brighton."

City are trying to regain momentum aft a 0-0 gully astatine Sunderland connected New Year’s Day near them 4 points down Arsenal astatine the halfway point. Guardiola did instrumentality encouragement from Rodri’s second-half return.

"He changed the game. He proved successful 45 minutes successful his presumption helium is the best.

"When they struggled successful the archetypal half, with Rodri they struggled less.

"One twelvemonth and a fractional without him, we missed him a lot. Hopefully helium tin enactment [fit] due to the fact that helium makes america a amended team."