by Pep Guardiola is confident that if he leaves next summer, Manchester City will not falter like Manchester United did when Sir Alex Ferguson left in May 2013.
Guardiola will decide this winter whether to extend his contract for a tenth year after Txiki Begiristain confirmed he will leave City as sporting director at the end of the season. Ferguson left United as champions but they have not been serious title contenders since.
“I don’t know what happened [at United]“said Guardiola. “I’m pretty sure of that [stability] will happen [here]. I know how it works. It would be a bad sign for the club if everything fell apart after a single person left. It [stability] will definitely happen. Maybe her [the executive] will make mistakes, but during the mistakes they will solve it. This is immediately certain. The boys know exactly what they have to do.
“If things go badly, they will immediately find solutions. They will be patient and calm and know what to do. Absolutely, I have no doubt about that. I have been at Txiki for 12 years and in my case it is normal that it seems like we cannot leave, but of course we can continue. Life goes on. The earth stays around.”
Guardiola once again said he did not know when Kevin De Bruyne would be able to return from a muscle problem. The Belgian turns 34 next June, Kyle Walker turns 35 in May, Bernardo Silva turns 31 in August and Ederson is attracting interest from Saudi Arabia. With this in mind and with Hugo Viana replacing Begiristain, Guardiola was asked if next summer would be an important summer for recruitment.
“That’s a good question for Hugo Viana and Txiki. Every summer there is something, the club has to be ready. You act as if everything is fine now, young team, and then two or three players knock on the door and say: “I want to leave, I’m not playing, I’m not happy here.” And of course there are players with one certain age and we have to see what happens. I give my opinion, but it’s a question for the sports directors.”
after newsletter advertising
Guardiola was asked if he had been consulted about Viana’s appointment. “No, I expressed my opinion; I give my opinion on a lot of things,” he said, adding that he had not spoken to Viana, who will come from Sporting.
