adminMUNICH. — Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola yesterday shot down swirling rumours of a possible move to Manchester City next season, saying he would see out his contract at the German soccer champions.
“Boys, I have said it 200 million times that I have one more year on my contract here,” the Spaniard told reporters ahead of today’s Champions League semi-final, return leg against Barcelona in Munich.
“Next season I will be here and that’s all there is to it,” said Guardiola, who won the domestic double last season and the league title in the current campaign.
But he has not enjoyed the European success he was hired to achieve back in 2013 and a 3-0 Champions League first leg defeat at Barcelona could spell the end of their run this season.
A 1-0 loss to Augsburg in the league on Saturday further fanned speculation about the Spaniard’s stay in Munich after what was the fourth straight loss for Bayern in all competitions, something that had not happened since 1991.
Several media had reported on Sunday of a pre-agreement with City.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini could be under pressure after his side lost their Premier League title to Chelsea this season.
Newspaper reports on Sunday morning claimed that Guardiola, who is in his second season in charge at Bayern, had reached a verbal agreement to manage them next term.
He has won a domestic league title in five of his six seasons as a manager, three with Barcelona and two with Bayern. This is also his fifth season managing in the Champions League semi-finals.
However, Bayern face a big task to reach the final, having lost 3-0 in the first leg of their tie with Barca.
Guardiola said: “Barcelona are strong on the break. If we let something slip, they’ll punish us.
“We have to defend well. We can’t go on the all-out attack. We have to control the game.
“We’re Bayern — before a game I’ve never said that we have no chance. Of course we do.” — AFP.
Online Reporter