‘Even if They Put Man City in League Two, I’m Ready to Stay Back’, Guardiola Promises

Pep Guardiola has reportedly promised his Manchester City players he will to stay despite their Champions League ban and would even be prepared to manage the club in League Two.

Premier League champions City were rocked on Friday after UEFA punished them for ‘serious breaches’ of their Financial Fair Play and club licensing regulations.

Manchester City were banned from European club competition for the next two seasons and fined £25million, although they confirmed they are appealing the verdict.

There has been much speculation over the future of Guardiola and City’s star players following the announcement, with a number of rival clubs looking to pouch the Spanish manager.

But, according to Sky Sports, Guardiola has reiterated his commitment to Manchester City in a crisis meeting with the squad.

Guardiola is alleged to have said: ‘Whatever league we are in, I will still be here. Even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here. This is a time for sticking together.’

Manchester City CEO Ferran Soriano, meanwhile, reportedly told the players: ‘Trust me like I trust you, this will be dropped.’

Guardiola’s current Manchester City contract will expire at the end of the 2020-21 season and he intends to see out the deal.

But speaking to Sky Sports on Saturday, former Premier League star Clinton Morrison suggested Guardiola would leave following the UEFA punishment.

He said: ‘It wouldn’t look great if he jumped ship now.

‘They’ve still got this season, and people are still making them favourites to win the Champions League – I don’t know how, for me Liverpool are the favourites to go on and win the Champions League this season.

‘But it’d be a massive blow. If City can’t play in the Champions League for the next two seasons, I can’t see him staying around.

‘He’s already won the Premier League a few times, he’s not going to be happy with that. Two years without being in it? Then I think it’ll have a knock-on effect, and they’ll end up losing players.