I COULD NOT QUIT ON CITY NOW: PEP

He inks 2-year extension amid mini-slump after U-turn on plan to leave at season's end

LONDON - Pep Guardiola has extended his contract as manager of English Premier League champions Manchester City for a further two seasons, saying on Nov 21 that "I could not leave now" with the club facing arguably the toughest period of his time at the Etihad Stadium.

There had been speculation the 53-year-old's City career could be coming to an end, with the club facing an uncertain future due to an ongoing hearing over 115 breaches of the league's financial regulations.

City are also currently on a four-game losing streak in all competitions, although they are second in the Premier League, five points behind leaders Liverpool. They next host Tottenham Hotspur on Nov 23.

But reports emerged on Nov 19 that Guardiola, who took over at City in 2016 and has since won a total of 18 trophies across all competitions, including six Premier League titles, would stay.

With City on a record-breaking run of four successive top-flight titles, Guardiola - who led the club to a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble in 2023 - said he changed his mind about this being his last season.