Pep Guardiola Dismisses Reports Linking Him With Manchester City Move
Bayern Munich has dismissed reports linking him with a move to Manchester City this summer. The Spaniard’s future has come under increasing doubts after his recent failures in the Champions League, and his reluctance so far to extend his contract with Bayern, which comes to an end after the 2015-2016 season.
"I have said it 200 million times that my future lies at Sabener Strasse [the club's training facilities]. I have one more year left on my contract. I will be here next season," Guardiola said at a press conference, as per ESPN.
Bayern have lost their last four games in a row. They lost to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal and then lost to Bayer Leverkusen in the league before a shocking 3-0 loss to Barcelona in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. That loss was followed by another loss to Augsburg in the league, although they had already wrapped up the Bundesliga title before this series of defeats started.
The German champions will now go into Tuesday night’s second leg clash against Barcelona having to overturn a 3-0 deficit, something only done once before in the game. Bayern lost against Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the 2014-15 Champions League, and this has led to criticism from some quarters for Guardiola, including Bayern honorary president Franz Beckenbauer, who has gone as far as to say that outgoing Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp could be a potential candidate for the top job at Bayern if Guardiola were to leave.
"I am not here to be the best coach in the world. I am here to do my best, just like I did at Barcelona. If that's not enough for journalists, former players-turned-pundits or the [honorary] president, I am sorry,” Guardiola added at the press conference, as per ESPN.
Manchester City have been linked with Guardiola constantly after a poor season which saw them give up their Premier League title to chase, along with another UCL last-16 exit. Current coach Manuel Pellegrini is under pressure and if Guardiola becomes available, the former will certainly be asked to make way for the Spaniard.
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