Guardiola Ends Speculation: Staying at Manchester City

Pep Guardiola has put an end to all speculation about his future at Manchester City, confirming he is still under contract for one more year. The Spanish manager made his position clear just hours before his team faces Chelsea in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium.

When asked directly if his trip to Wembley would be his last, Guardiola responded with finality: "No, never, never. I still have one year left on my contract."

Pressed on whether his tally of 19 trophies with the club defines greatness, Guardiola laughed and said: "Yes, without a doubt. Winning 19 titles in 10 years is not bad at all. Everyone knows that. Even before I leave, the journey has been truly fantastic and magical. We have won 19 trophies, and now we are fighting for number 20."

Haaland's Wembley Drought

The manager also addressed the fact that Norwegian striker Erling Haaland has yet to score at Wembley Stadium. Joking with reporters, Guardiola said: "Oh, really? Good... I love this kind of question. He will score tomorrow. And if he doesn't, don't ask me again."

Fan Influence and Tough Decisions

Guardiola revealed that crowd sentiment can occasionally sway his team selections. "I always try to do what I believe in, but sometimes it can happen. In the last match, the crowd started singing for John Stones, and I thought: okay, the fans paid for their tickets, so John Stones should play. So that can happen sometimes, but mostly it doesn't."

He highlighted the difficulty of leaving players out of the matchday squad entirely. "Do you know what the hardest thing is? Tomorrow there will be six players not even on the bench. That is very painful because they helped us so much to reach the final, but that is football."

Describing the relentless schedule, Guardiola added: "We will finish the match, shower quickly, and return to Manchester to sleep, because we travel to Bournemouth on Monday. Imagine, even if we win, we won't celebrate. We will go straight back to preparing for another final. That is modern football, unfortunately."

Freedom to Leave

On the club's policy regarding player and staff departures, Guardiola emphasized respect for individual choices. "When someone decides to leave, I am not the person who will tell them they must stay. Everyone has their family, their dreams, and new ambitions, and that must always be respected."

He elaborated: "The club always operates this way, and it applies to the players as well. If you are not happy, you should leave. Go to the sporting director, bring an offer from another club, and if you want to go, what is the point of staying? The same applies to members of the coaching staff."

Concluding his remarks, Guardiola stated: "If you have a new dream or a new idea, you have to follow it. Dreams must always be pursued. You cannot stay inside your comfort zone. If you feel something will make you happier or better, you have to go after it, because life is very short."