Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola on the touchline (Getty Images)
According to a report by The Guardian, Pep Guardiola is open to staying with Manchester City beyond 2021. The two-time Premier League winning manager has achieved unprecedented levels of success with the Manchester-based outfit.
However, the recent news of the two-year Champions League ban did lead to speculations about his future. Things have taken a turn now, with the Spaniard now claiming that he is open to staying – provided the club want to keep him. And as far as that decision is concerned, it should be a no-brainer for the Cityzens to tie him down to fresh terms at the earliest.
City’s current crop of superstars – particularly Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Fernandinho and even Vincent Kompany were all a part of the team even before Guardiola come into the fray. While they did taste success in the past, no other manager has made an impact as strongly as the current boss.
It is easy to sign big names and build a squad but to make a team work together and perform as a unit on the field is no cakewalk. And yet, Guardiola has done exactly that at City.
Granted, the Manchester giants are yet to establish their elite status in the Champions League and have also fallen short of Liverpool in the Premier League title race this season.
That said, if there is anyone who can rally the team together and push them to do better, it has to be Guardiola. And the sooner Manchester City recognize that, the better it would be for not just the club and players but also for the fans.
The outcome of City’s legal battle with the UEFA remains to be seen but despite that, City should take motivation from the fact that Guardiola is open to extending his stay. And hence, tying him down to fresh terms should be a no-brainer for the top brass at the Etihad.
