Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has rubbished the notion he could walk away from the club at the end of this season.
Guardiola is contracted until the end of the 2020-21 season and said he will see out his current deal, even if City fail to make it a hat-trick of Premier League titles.
The back-to-back champions are currently in fourth place, nine points behind leaders Liverpool , following a 3-1 defeat at Anfield before the international break.
That, and the fact Guardiola’s wife has returned to Barcelona to live with one of their three children, raised the prospect of the 48-year-old bringing to a premature end his time in Manchester.
But Guardiola, whose side host Chelsea today, said he will be at City next season and will not take the easy option of quitting, just because the going gets tough.
“If people ask if I want to stay? I want to stay,” said Guardiola.
“I don’t have any reasons to move from here.
“I’m incredibly satisfied to work with this club, with these players, and if people think I’m going to resign or be sacked for these results and nine points behind, people don’t know me.
“I like to be in this challenge, I love to be in this position. And, if the club wants me next season, I want to be here, 100 per cent.
“I want to live in this city because I know lovely people here and I want to work and live with them and I want to be here.
“But if they decide the results are getting worse, they’re going to take a decision, that’s normal.
“It’s not because I am friends with Txiki [Begiristain, sporting director] that I’m going to stay for the rest of my life. I’m here because I win.
“If I don’t win, I’m in trouble, I know that, but I’m incredibly satisfied to work in this city and this club and I want to help this club to get better.
“I still enjoy working with these players a lot and I would like to stay longer. If the club wants, I will stay.”
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