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Pep Guardiola open to extending Manchester City stay

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Anthony Devlin / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on February 19, 2020. (Photo by Anthony Devlin / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by ANTHONY DEVLIN/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Despite entering the final year of his deal, Pep Guardiola could extend his time as Manchester City’s manager.

Pep Guardiola’s time as Manchester City head coach has elevated the club to new heights, setting the Premier League points record and winning a domestic treble during his time at the Etihad. However, a lack of success in Europe has soured what otherwise has been a historic tenure for Manchester City’s best-ever coach, who could extend past the length of his current deal.

Guardiola is known for moving on, having never managed a club for longer than four years. As he enters the fourth season of his career in Manchester and the final under his current contract, City appear to be pivoting toward a transition for the long-term. The club will undoubtedly want Guardiola to lead them forward into a future without the likes of Vincent Kompany, David Silva, Fernandinho, and Sergio Agüero.

While the status of the Catalan remains unknown, he has given City supporters hope that he will continue past the current extent of his contract in a recent interview.

"“I would love to stay longer here. It is a place I love to be,” Guardiola said. “This club has achieved standards in the last decade. We have to maintain that. I am going to see if I deserve it this season in terms of how the club goes forward and improves. They didn’t push me from day one to today. They allow me to do my job.”"

In many ways, City is the perfect fit for Guardiola’s long-term future. The club’s position in the Premier League, the world’s most competitive and regularly-watched league makes it an attractive place to coach. Moreover, the club has the resources to fulfill any of Guardiola’s needs in terms of player personnel and have built the recent future and structure of the club in his image.

Therefore, I believe an extension is in the best interests of both parties. It is unlikely that Guardiola will stay forever, but the idea of Guardiola becoming City’s version of Sir Alex Ferguson is enticing to say the least. Moreover, the most attractive options to lure the Catalan from City are not in the best state right now. Juventus are a struggling squad with limited resources and an aging Cristiano Ronaldo, and Barcelona are in a shambles on and off the pitch with Lionel Messi eyeing the exit door this summer.

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A decision on Guardiola’s future is set to be made in the middle of this season, depending on how the team respond to the manager’s methods. Another interesting angle is the Messi contract situation. With both out of contract at the end of the season, Messi and Guardiola can effectively decide their next destination together, whether that is Manchester City, Barcelona, or another club such as PSG.

An extension at City works best for all parties involved. I do not believe the club is ready to be forced into such a drastic shift after five years under Pep, and I believe Guardiola does not have any options as suited to his style and needs as good as City. Therefore, the board should iron out a potential deal as soon as possible to make the future clear for the manager, fans, and players.

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