Pep Guardiola insists he feels ‘very good’ at Manchester City after signing a new contract

Pep Guardiola has claimed he would consider a return to Barcelona if he thought he was essential, but the Manchester City boss has insisted he feels at home with the reigning Premier League champions.

Guardiola last week committed his future to Manchester City by agreeing a two-year contract extension, with the new deal running until 2025.

The 51-year-old previously enjoyed success with Barcelona as a player, before his trophy laden four-year spell in charge of the Catalan giants as manager, which ended in 2012.

His former player, Xavi, is currently in charge and has led Barcelona to the top of LaLiga in the first half of this season.

Guardiola was presented with the Best Manager trophy for the fifth time at the Catalan Football Federation’s annual gala, where he was asked about his former side.

‘It’s a bad way to see it that I have to go back, because Pep left and Barca kept winning,’ Guardiola said, as reported by Mundo Deportivo.

‘You shouldn’t think like that. If I thought I was essential, I would return, but that’s not the case.

‘There are stages, there are processes, and if one day I have to meet again, we will meet again naturally and without forcing it..’

“I’ve renewed [my Man City contract] because it’s very sunny there. I feel very good there, very comfortable, they give me everything and I have very good friends nearby…”

A master of interviews, Pep made sure to tease Barcelona fans again, calling the Catalan capital his ‘home’.

“The city [Manchester] is not Barcelona, I’m not at home. That’s obvious, but every three days there is a game and I prepare them, that makes me feel good in Manchester and in the city.”

Prior to extending his contract last week, Guardiola had just seven months left to run on his deal, leading to concern among City fans that the decorated coach would walk away from the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.

The four-time Premier League winner, who joined City in 2016, would have been in charge for nine years if he sees out his new contract.

Guardiola has won all there is to win during his tenure in charge of the club, barring the elusive Champions League trophy. The Spaniard took City to the 2021 final in Portugal, only to lose to Chelsea.