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Guardiola reveals how meeting with Man City chairman ‘convinced’ him to stay

Pep Guardiola has revealed how a meeting with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak ‘convinced’ him to stay and commit his future to the club.

Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension in November that will run until the summer of 2023, a deal that will take his spell with the club to seven years – far longer than his previous stints at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

 

The Spaniard has brought a wealth of success to the Etihad since his appointment five years ago, with City this week crowned as Premier League champions for the third time in four seasons and in pursuit of a maiden Champions League ahead of this month’s final against Chelsea.

Speaking ahead of this evening’s clash with Newcastle, Guardiola discussed his talks with the hierarchy over his future and decision to stay with City, revealing the unwavering trust of the club’s board ‘convinced’ him to sign a new deal.

“I travelled to see him in November, we had long discussions together, he convinced me that we still have a lot of work to do,” Guardiola said at his pre-match press conference.

“I trust him a lot, and the way he said to me, I said, ‘okay we’re going to try again the next years.’

“And part of the reason why I have happiness here, and we have had success, is his determination to convince me, to say we still have (things) to do.

“We cannot forget the disappointment of Lyon, the quarter-final of the Champions League the previous season, and we started this season with a lot of ups and downs

“And that is the big difference I found. When I had the feeling sometimes in other clubs – I’ve always been supported in Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but I had the feeling that the manager would only be supported when he had success.

“And I cannot forget the first season here when I didn’t win anything, the behaviour of my chairman. And I cannot forget the big disappointment, personally, against Lyon, the support I had from my chairman.

“I saw that he trusted me, I cannot assure him of success, Nobody can. But I saw his eyes, the way we were with our families and I saw it and I trusted him and when that happens you have to do it. After what happened in the first season and the way they were, I cannot say no.”

Read – Champions: Six games that shaped Manchester City’s title triumph

Read Also – Appreciating the 10 teenagers to score away goals at Old Trafford in the Premier League

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