Pep Guardiola suggests he might have left Manchester City if not for the competitive challenge posed by Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola has signed a new two-year contract with Manchester City, extending his tenure at the club to 11 years, and explained the reasoning behind his decision. The 53-year-old manager, who was previously set to leave when his contract expired in July 2025, will now remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2027.

Guardiola revealed that City’s recent challenges, including trailing Liverpool by five points in the Premier League after 11 games and enduring four consecutive losses across all competitions, influenced his decision to stay. Reflecting on his choice, Guardiola said: “Now I cannot leave. Maybe the four defeats were the reason why I felt I cannot leave.”

He admitted he had been considering leaving earlier in the season, saying: “I thought this should be the last one, but with the issues we’ve faced recently, I felt now wasn’t the time to go. I don’t want to let the club down.” Guardiola also highlighted the confidence shown in him by chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, which played a key role in his decision.

Under Guardiola’s leadership, City have won six Premier League titles and achieved historic success, including last season’s treble with their Champions League triumph over Inter Milan. Despite this success, Guardiola acknowledged the need to rebuild consistency and stability after recent struggles.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak expressed delight at the contract extension, praising Guardiola’s relentless hunger for improvement and the lasting impact of his innovative coaching on the club and English football. Guardiola’s decision to stay comes as City await the outcome of charges for alleged breaches of Premier League rules, which the club denies.