Manchester City

Pep Guardiola rules out Manchester City sabbatical

| 12 June 2019

Pep Guardiola rules out Manchester City sabbatical

Guardiola has had an extended break before, enjoying a year off after leaving Barcelona before taking over at Bayern Munich in 2013.

Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions he is considering taking a break from football.

Reports have claimed the Manchester City manager could take a sabbatical if he guides his side to Champions League victory next year.

Guardiola has had an extended break before, enjoying a year off after leaving Barcelona before taking over at Bayern Munich in 2013.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Manchester City – Premier League – AMEX Stadium — Pep Guardiola celebrates with the Premier League trophy (Nick Potts/PA)

Yet with two years remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, the 48-year-old insists such thoughts are not in his mind.

Speaking to media at a golf event in Spain, Guardiola said, in quotes carried by Marca: "No. I do not take sabbatical years. I am young and I have desire.

"The news comes out and many things are not true. If they do not kick me out, I'll stay there."

Guardiola also emphatically denied speculation linking him with Juventus last month.

Manchester City Trophy Parade — Manchester City secured the treble in 2018-19 (Peter Byrne/PA)

City won an unprecedented treble of the Premier League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup last season.

Their next challenge is to win the Champions League after defeats in the quarter-finals in the past two years.

Guardiola said: "We all want to win the Champions League because it is the most beautiful thing. The important thing is to try again and in our case we will do it again.

"If we fail, we will try again, as the important thing is to be there until the end."

Following Real Madrid's signing of Eden Hazard in a deal that could potentially cost £130million, Guardiola also made an ironic comment about the perception City are viewed as the game's big spenders.

"Real Madrid are signing good players, but only Manchester City spend money here," he said.

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