Guardiola silent on Manchester City exit speculation after Arsenal title win

Pep Guardiola declined to comment publicly on widespread expectations that his 10-year tenure at Manchester City will end, despite reports from the Guardian that he has already informed his players of his departure.

“I could say I have one year of contract – the conversation we have had for many years,” Guardiola said after a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth that prevented City from halting Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph.

Guardiola repeated the deflection he has used throughout the season, stating, “Always from my experience, when you [media] announce whatever you announce during a competition, it is a bad, bad result.”

He said the first person to know his decision would be Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chair of City Football Group, and that he would also consult with chief executive Ferran Soriano: “The first person I have to talk to is my chairman because we both decide – we will talk, it is simple as that and after that we will take the decision.”

“Listen, I have one more year. I will not tell you here as I have to talk to my chairman, with my players and with my staff. I am the happiest man on the planet to be in this club. This club is extraordinary,” Guardiola added.

Guardiola acknowledged that his conversation with al-Mubarak is imminent: “I always said that when you are fighting for the titles or Premier Leagues or FA Cups, in the first moment there is a problem the players don’t follow you any more.”

“Now is a moment with Ferran and my chairman to talk and after that we will see what happens … taking nothing for granted. Next season we will be back, City will be back,” he said.

Guardiola instead chose to congratulate Arsenal, managed by his former assistant at City, Mikel Arteta. He said: “We were close. On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League. They deserve it.”

He attributed his team’s heavy schedule to their shortfall, stating, “I would have loved to arrive at the last moment but today the fatigue was there.” Erling Haaland’s late equalizer was insufficient to prevent Arsenal’s first title in 22 years. “Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose in the last moment because the opponents are really good, really tough,” Guardiola added.

Bernardo Silva, whose own departure this summer has been confirmed, said of Guardiola: “Well, I honestly don’t know about it. That’s his decision, that’s his announcement to make if he stays or if he goes. That’s not on me.”