Pep Guardiola has played down speculation about his future following Manchester City’s exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
City, who were already trailing 3-0 from the first leg, suffered a 2-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, with Vinícius Júnior scoring twice to seal Madrid’s progression. Bernardo Silva was also sent off during the encounter.
Speaking after the match, Guardiola brushed aside suggestions he could be sacked, joking about the constant scrutiny surrounding his role.
“Everybody wants to fire me, right? One day I will come here and say goodbye. But I’m still here, with one more year on my contract,” he said.
The City boss also addressed criticism of his Champions League record, responding sarcastically to expectations that he must win multiple titles to gain recognition.
He reflected on the club’s growth since his arrival, noting that early doubts about success eventually gave way to major achievements, including their long-awaited Champions League triumph.
Despite recent setbacks, Guardiola insisted his team has consistently competed at the highest level in Europe, reaching finals and semi-finals over the years, even if they have fallen short in the last two editions.
He compared the pressure at City with that at Real Madrid, where anything less than winning the Champions League is often seen as failure, admitting he would welcome such expectations at his club in the future.
While acknowledging recent inconsistencies, Guardiola expressed confidence in his squad, describing them as “an extraordinary team” that is still developing.
According to him, City need to be more clinical in key moments but will improve with time, just as they did during his early years at the club.
Guardiola concluded that patience remains crucial, emphasizing that continued progress will eventually restore the team to its peak level.
