Sign up for Miguel Delaney’s free Reading the Game newsletter delivered straight to your inbox

Sign up for Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter

Sign up for Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter

Pep Guardiola has declared his determination to return Manchester City to the top even if they are relegated to the National League due to alleged financial irregularities.

The City manager this week ended speculation over his immediate future by extending his contract with the club he guided to six Premier League titles until the summer of 2027.

The news provided a boost to the champions at a time of huge uncertainty off the field.

The club is currently facing 115 charges of alleged rule violations following an investigation into its financial affairs.

City deny any wrongdoing but, if found guilty, could face severe punishment, including the possibility of relegation.

Guardiola, who revealed his contract negotiations were concluded in two hours, said: “I said it six months ago, not because now I have extended my contract.

“I said when all the clubs were accusing us of doing something wrong, (and people were asking) what would happen if we got relegated, (I said) I’ll be there.

“Next year I don’t know what Conference position they’re going to (put) us in, (but) we’re going to go up and up and back into the Premier League. I knew it then and I feel it now .

Guardiola has won 18 trophies since taking charge at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, his haul also including the Champions League and two FA Cups.

His previous contract was due to expire next summer. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager said: “I thought I had to stay here because they wanted me – for obvious reasons, for the results.

“Sometimes something can ignite within you to say that this is the time to stay here. In just two hours we did it. Maybe I’m a little arrogant, but I think we deserve to continue what we’ve been doing in recent years.

“But I’m not naive enough to think I’m going to stay because we have a contract or what we’ve done in the past. Maybe in a month I won’t be here if things don’t go well. We have to start again.

Meanwhile, Guardiola has expressed his frustration over his team’s long injury list and in particular the impact international football is having on the situation.

open image in gallery

City, who host Tottenham this weekend, have lost their last four matches in all competitions, with high absentee numbers a contributing factor.

Mateo Kovacic is the latest victim, he risks up to a month of absence due to a blow suffered during his international service.

Defenders John Stones, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake are all set to return, but Guardiola underlined his exasperation by highlighting the case of a non-first team-mate, 19-year-old Max Alleyne.

Guardiola, who was upset recently when England called up Jack Grealish injured, said: “Max Alleyne – they pushed his limits and he came back injured.

“They should be in more contact, the national teams with the specific doctors here, because if a player is not in perfect condition and trains with the under-21s in the morning and in the afternoon with the under 20, then plays two games when he is not fully fit, it is normal for him to be injured. We will lose him for another three weeks to a month.