Pep Guardiola contract admission could give Man City the title motivation they need next season

Pep Guardiola says he won't discuss a new contract until after what could be his final game in charge of Manchester City.

Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the 2022/23 season, and has given positive hints in recent months about staying 'for the next ten years'. He regularly leaps to the defence of the club and his bosses, with whom he has a positive working relationship, with everyone on the same page.

Without Guardiola, City wouldn't have three Premier League titles in the last four years, and they wouldn't be closer to Champions League glory than they have ever been before. Fans would jump at the chance to have Guardiola at the club past next summer, but it could be a shrewd move from the boss to press pause on talk of any extensions.

ALSO READ:Pep Guardiola says he will run down Man City contract next season

Liverpool extended Jurgen Klopp's contract this week in relatively quiet fashion, ensuring there was no long saga over his future so they can focus purely on toppling City at the top of the table. When City have extended Guardiola's deal in the past, it has been done quietly, behind the scenes, and announced in good time.

Fans might have been hopeful that there would be similar news this summer or early next season, but Guardiola seemingly dismissed that on Thursday.

"If I extend the contract, it will be at the end of the next season. Before that is not going to happen," he said.

"It is many years and I have to see how the team and ourselves are together. Knowing and saying I would stay for 10 more years but we have to take time for that. It is not the time for that in this season or during the next season."

Guardiola and City have such a strong relationship that this arrangement wouldn't be taken by