`I thought it was the last time,' said Guardiola, who extended his contract with Manchester City

Nov 22, 2024

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v West Ham United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 19, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola celebrates with the trophy after winning the Premier League Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS../File Photo

"I thought this was the last time...."

Josep Guardiola (53), who succeeded in extending his contract with the prestigious Manchester City in the English Premier League (EPL), has revealed his inner feelings.

Manchester City extended Guardiola's contract by two years on the 22nd (Korea time). Guardiola and Manchester City have had a time full of success. Now he will lead the team for more than a decade,' he said in an official announcement.

Manchester City Chairman Khaldun Almubarak said "I am pleased that Guardiola and Manchester City continue their journey. His dedication, passion, and innovative thinking renews the game."

Guardiola said he had a really special feeling for the team because he experienced an amazing time in his ninth season at Manchester City"My goal is to lift more trophies," he said.

Guardiola led Manchester City with 18 trophies and contributed greatly to Manchester City's position as the strongest team in the EPL.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City - The American Express Community Stadium, Brighton, Britain - November 9, 2024 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola shakes hands with Brighton & Hove Albion's Jan Paul van Hecke after the match REUTERS/Toby Melville EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO USE WITH UNAUTHORIZED AUDIO, VIDEO, DATA, FIXTURE LISTS, CLUB/LEAGUE LOGOS OR 'LIVE' SERVICES. ONLINE IN-MATCH USE LIMITED TO 120 IMAGES, NO VIDEO EMULATION. NO USE IN BETTING, GAMES OR SINGLE CLUB/LEAGUE/PLAYER PUBLICATIONS. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE FOR FURTHER DETAILS..

After joining Manchester City in 2016 after playing for FC Barcelona (Spain) and Bayern Munich (Germany), he achieved the first four consecutive wins in EPL history from the 2020-2021 season to the 2023-2024 season. In the 2018-2019 season, he became the first team to dominate the EPL, the English Football Association (FA) Cup, and the League Cup.

In particular, in the 2022-2023 season, he won the UEFA Champions League (UCL) for the first time in the club's history and had his best season, including the EPL and FA Cups combined 'European treble (triple crown).'

Even he had a hard time thinking about resigning. It was when he fell into a quagmire for four consecutive official games from the Carabao Cup Tottenham (1-2 loss) to Brighton at the end of October. It is the first time in 18 years that Manchester City has won four consecutive games since Guardiola's appointment as well as in 2006 before it was acquired by UAE Capital.

British media outlet Sky Sports reported that Guardiola was thinking of leaving office when he faced a four-game losing streak. He is said to have fixed his shaken mind.

Guardiola said, "It's true that I've had a lot of thoughts due to the four consecutive losses, but I still felt that I couldn't quit."I couldn't give up thinking about the fact that the club needed me or the path we've taken together."," he recalled.

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