Pep Guardiola wants to remain as Manchester City manager next season and claims to have unfinished business in the Premier League.
The Catalan, who has 18 months left on his current contract, insisted that no discussions had taken place between him and the club’s hierarchy over his future.
That came amid suggestions that Guardiola is ready to call time on his decade-long stint at the Etihad Stadium next summer.
The 54-year-old will take stock once this season has finished but believes that the current state of City’s squad is leaving him with enough hunger and drive to continue.
‘I’m happy here, I want to stay here,’ Guardiola said. ‘What can I say? The moment I feel that it is done and with the players I cannot squeeze more – or I can’t visualise how we could do better – then I will go home. Still I have the feeling.
‘Of course I want to win the Premier League and the Champions League but that is not the reason why I wake up in the morning. It’s not. It’s the process, the journey. To do it better. I’m excited because I there is a margin to improve – and that is what I like.
Pep Guardiola insists he wants to remain as Manchester City boss beyond the summer
There had been suggestions that he would end his stint early, with Enzo Maresca tipped as a potential successor
‘In 10 years I’ve done everything. It’s not about that. The motivation is not (trophies). The team is getting better and better and that is what I like.
‘There are things that have happened in the last month that are much, much better. It made me happy.’
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca was Guardiola’s assistant during the Treble campaign and has been tipped a as a potential successor. Xabi Alonso has long had admirers within the City boardroom, while Vincent Kompany is making a success of his time at Bayern Munich.
On signing his fourth contract extension last year, Guardiola – whose side can go top with victory over West Ham United on Saturday – admitted that he came close to leaving the club but changed his mind after a disastrous run of results.
‘It depends on my feelings,’ Guardiola added. ‘My feeling right now is good, that’s why I want to continue. It’s going to change? Maybe. I don’t know. But now what I’m feeling is (that) it’s not. What I’m feeling now is with the players I want to continue as much, and as long as possible.
‘I don’t have to text (director of football) Hugo Viana. I see him every day. We take a coffee every day together.
‘I said the club has to be prepared. The club has been prepared in the past with Txiki (Begiristain) because I’m a weird guy and maybe I wake up in the morning and say I’m leaving, “ciao ciao” so they have to prepare but this is not the case (now).’
