Pep Guardiola Insists 'Now Is Not the Time' to Discuss His Man City Future

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has again distanced himself from committing to the club after his current contract expires.

Guardiola's deal runs until the end of the 2020/21 season and he has regularly encouraged fans and the media to focus on his team's performances on the pitch, rather than let his contract situation dominate headlines.

There have been near-constant rumours of a potential move to another European heavyweight, with Juventus' name regularly thrown around, and that speculation is likely to persist after Guardiola told a press conference (via Goal) that he has no long-term focus at the minute.

“I’m incredibly excited for this part of the season, and the next one," Guardiola said. “I am incredibly satisfied to be in this club and to try to do our best.

"But I don’t want to think too far ahead. Now is not the time. I just think about today.

"I want the players to recover because the last 15-20 minutes were so demanding 10 against 11. We have a tough game against Newcastle and that's what I have to be focused on."

It's an uncertain time at the Etihad Stadium. City have fallen behind Liverpool and are expected to undergo somewhat of a squad rebuild this summer, but they may have to wait to find out the verdict on their Champions League ban.

City are expected to find out the result of their appeal against their two-year European ban in the first part of July, and that verdict could well have an impact on Guardiola's future - although the Spaniard is believed to have told friends that he is prepared to stay at the club regardless.

Back in February, Guardiola did indicate a willingness to extend his stay at the Etihad, saying: "By 2021 we will have been five years together and we will have to see if the club is happy with me to extend the contract.

"I am working with exceptional players and we have incredible owners here – it wouldn’t be difficult to understand why I might want to stay three more years or whatever, but we are going to see at the end of the season."

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