Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City “must be prepared” to plan for his exit and eventual replacement but insists he is far from finished with the club.
It is known that City has begun the process of selecting prospects to replace the Spaniard, despite uncertainty about his future with the club.
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who was previously Guardiola’s assistant at City, has stated that stories portraying him as a potential successor to the Spaniard are “100% speculation.”
Guardiola signed a new contract in November 2024 that will expire at the end of the 2026-27 season.
Speaking on Friday, the Spaniard said, “I’m happy here; I want to stay here. What can I say? Always results decide.
“When it is the [end of the] chapter, the club will choose the best one to continue this incredible period in Man City.
“There have been rumors in the last years many, many times, but I want to stay here. At the end of the season, we’ll see.”
City, who are two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, host West Ham on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
City had a dismal 2024-25 season, failing to win any major domestic titles for the first time since 2016-17.
However, this season, Guardiola appears to be relishing the task of competing on all fronts following a summer renovation.
“I’m excited because there is a margin to improve, to do it better. That is what I like,” he said.
“Last season was a really, really tough season, and I didn’t give up, and I was there. This season is much better in terms of many things I’m seeing, and still I’m here.
“It depends on my feelings, and my feeling right now is good. That’s why I want to continue.
“It’s going to change? Maybe, I don’t know. But what I’m feeling now is not [that]. What I’m feeling now is with the players I want to continue as much, and as long, as possible.”
Guardiola has led City to 15 major honors, excluding the Community Shield, since joining the club in 2016, having previously won numerous trophies with Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Rather than providing a specific timetable for a prospective exit, he stated that it was about sustaining competition at the highest level.
“In the Champions League we are fourth with two games left; in the Premier League we are [up] there, and [we have] the Carabao Cup semi-final. That is what motivated me to wake up early this morning,” Guardiola said.
“I have to visualize the team being better. When we’re more solid, creating more chances and conceding less—and winning games, winning games, winning games. That is the business. That is the main reason.
“The moment I feel that it is done and with the players I cannot squeeze more—or I can’t visualize how we could do better—then I will go home. Still, I have the feeling.”
Speaking on whether he will be at City next season, Guardiola added, “I answered that question before. I am here. What’s going to happen, who knows, but whether I have 10 years on my contract or six months, football changes a lot.
“There are no discussions—end of the subject. There are no discussions. I will not be here eternally, but I’ve said before I will not be here forever.”
