Pep Guardiola suggests one national team will no longer want him after Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting | OneFootball

Manchester City’s 4-1 defeat to Sporting CP in the UEFA Champions League may be enough to push away interest from one national team, according to Pep Guardiola.

The Premier League champions are currently on a run of three matches without a win or a draw, having lost contests against Tottenham in the Carabao Cup fourth round, Bournemouth in the Premier League, and Sporting CP in the Champions League.

It is the first time since April 2018 that Manchester City have lost three matches in a row, when a Champions League knockout double-header against Liverpool was sandwiched by a dramatic comeback win for Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

The challenging results for Manchester City come at a time when Pep Guardiola also faces uncertainty over his own future, with his existing Etihad contract expiring at the end of the ongoing season.

Speaking during his post-match media conference at Sporting CP on Tuesday night, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was asked whether he may still be interested in the Brazil national team job amid his ongoing issues at the Etihad Stadium.

“After 4-1 (against Sporting), I am no longer an option for Brazil,” Guardiola joked with reporters.

He continued in fighting words, “I, no no no, I have more than ever, I feel like lifting the team, getting back to our level.”

Pep Guardiola has long insisted that the prospect of managing at a major international tournament would be of interest at some stage in his career beyond Manchester City, with recent links to the England job.

Despite the Football Association having ultimately decided on Thomas Tuchel as their next manager, it is widely understood that there remains admiration and interest in Pep Guardiola for further down the line.

However, for the time being, Pep Guardiola and Manchester City’s focus will firmly centre around the existing scenario at the Etihad Stadium, and whether there is a contractual negotiation to take place in the coming weeks to take the Catalan beyond a decade at the club.