‘We have to win it first, then you can ask me after’: Pep Guardiola seemingly backtracks on claims he won’t leave the Etihad this summer if Manchester City win the treble… after previously saying he was staying
- Pep Guardiola has seemingly backtracked on claims he would leave Man City
- The manager previously said he would stay at the Etihad if they won the treble
- But a new interview with the Spanish boss seemed less committal than before
Pep Guardiola appears to have backtracked on whether he would quit Manchester City if the club won an unprecedented treble over the next few weeks.
Having sealed the Premier League last weekend, Man City have the FA Cup final against Manchester United on the first Saturday of June, and the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul a week later.
Guardiola, 52, previously insisted that he would not leave the Etihad, even if his side achieved ultimate success in all three tournaments.
But in a new interview with Sky Sports, he was not consistent with that answer, and was instead cryptic about his future with the Citizens.
On being posed the question, he said: ‘First of all, we have to win it. Then you will have to ask me the question, and I will tell you how I feel or how I think.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has seemingly backtracked on claims he will stay
City lifted another Premier League title on Sunday afternoon after a 1-0 win over Chelsea
‘We have games away in each competition to do it. The reality is, it’s different. You can’t tell me that to beat our city rivals United would be an easy game. What would happen against an Italian team, I don’t feel the favourite. I’m thinking about that. If we achieve it, I will tell you. We will see what happens next season.’
In his pre-match conference ahead of Man City’s trip to Brighton, Guardiola said: ‘Right now I am not thinking about leaving, but who knows? But I am not thinking.’
He also called upon the Premier League to make a quick resolution on 115 rule breaches, which looks to overshadow Man City’s success regardless of whatever else they achieve this season.
Guardiola wants the Premier League to come to a quick decision on 115 alleged rule breaches
Guardiola said: ‘Hopefully they are not so busy and the judges can see both sides and decide what is the best because, in the end, I know that what we won, we won on the pitch.
‘Let’s have it as soon as possible for the benefit of everyone.’
After the Premier League trophy lift following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Chelsea, Man City play Brighton on Wednesday night before finishing the league season at Brentford on Sunday afternoon.
Six days later, they will contest the FA Cup final against city rivals Manchester United at Wembley, seven days ahead of the Inter Milan clash at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey.