Pep Guardiola says he’s ‘closer to leaving than staying’ after latest Manchester City triumph

LONDON – Pep Guardiola raised the prospect of leaving Manchester City on May 19, minutes after steering them to an unprecedented fourth successive English Premier League title.

“The reality is I am closer to leaving than staying,” the Spaniard told Sky News, before clarifying that there would be no immediate departure from the club he has managed since 2016.

“We have talked with the club – my feeling is that I want to stay now. I will stay next season and during the season we will talk. But eight or nine years – we will see.”

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, ‘No one has done four in a row, why don’t we try?’ And now I feel, ‘It’s done, so what’s 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.

However, he reassured fans that he was up for the challenge of the FA Cup final against Manchester United on May 25, and would no doubt find the motivation again for the next Premier League season, as he has done repeatedly.

The 53-year-old Spaniard was modest about his latest achievement, saying others such as Manchester United’s Alex Ferguson had achieved more than him in the past.

And he was full of praise for this season’s rivals, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Liverpool’s outgoing boss Jurgen Klopp, who pushed him throughout.

“We competed incredibly well again and at the end, for a little margin, we won it, we did it... We have done something incredible,” he said, lavishing praise on his players.

“It’s the Premier League, it’s the toughest one. This is the toughest for many reasons, the lack of recovery.”

Guardiola paid an emotional tribute to Klopp, who took charge of the Reds for the last time on May 19, saying he was a great personality who had driven him to new heights.

“I will miss him a lot. He has been very important in my life. I just want to say thank you so much for his work. He helped me with his team. He has been a huge competitor in my life. With him, it has been so difficult,” he said.

Arteta, his former assistant at the Etihad, was another formidable rival who was there to stay, Guardiola said.

Arsenal finished just two points behind City after pushing them to the final day of the season.

“We got the message from Mikel and his players, we got it. We know they will be there for many years. Young manager with big talent – they sent us a message that you have to be careful for the next few years,” he said.

Guardiola’s players were fulsome in their thanks.

“I just said congratulations, and he said ‘no, you congratulations’,” said Jack Grealish.

“He’s an unbelievable guy. I’ve had times this season that I’ve struggled off the pitch – I don’t mind saying that – and he’s been there for me so much. He’s a brilliant manager on the pitch but behind closed doors and in his office, he’s helped me too.”

Erling Haaland, who won the Premier League Golden Boot for top scorer, said Guardiola was a tough but fantastic leader.

“It’s a bit demanding at times. It’s tough, but look at what he’s done. He demands a lot every single day,” he said. “If you don’t live up to what he expects, you have a big problem. He’s demanding and he’s a lovely guy and I love him to pieces.” REUTERS, AFP