Pep Guardiola has played down speculation over his future at Manchester City, insisting that Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea FC will not be his last appearance at Wembley as the club’s manager.
Guardiola made the remarks on Friday ahead of the highly anticipated FA Cup Final, which will mark his 24th visit to Wembley during his 10-year spell in charge of Manchester City.
The Spanish coach, whose current contract runs until 2027, has recently been linked with a possible departure at the end of the season. However, he laughed off the speculation when asked whether the Chelsea clash could be his final match at the national stadium.
“There is no way. I still have one more year on my contract,” Guardiola said, dismissing reports of an imminent exit.
The 55-year-old also reflected on his achievements at the club, highlighting the success City have enjoyed under his leadership. Since taking over in 2016, Guardiola has won 19 trophies and is now aiming to make it 20 if his side triumphs in the final.
He joked that after so many visits to Wembley, English football authorities should consider naming a stand after him.
“I’m disappointed they haven’t made a stand for Pep. After so many trips, at least a lounge or a box would be nice,” he said with laughter.
Guardiola described Wembley as a special venue in his career, recalling his triumphs there as both a player and manager. He won the European Cup at the old Wembley with FC Barcelona in 1992 and later returned to lift the Champions League trophy at the rebuilt stadium as Barcelona manager in 2011.
Manchester City will face Chelsea on Saturday as they seek to add the FA Cup to their Carabao Cup success this season, with Guardiola hoping to cap another strong campaign with more silverware.
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