Pep Guardiola responds to new message from Manchester City fans via Etihad Stadium banner | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has issued a direct response to the love shown to him by the club’s fanbase at the Etihad Stadium over the weekend.

With the legendary Catalan’s existing Manchester City contract well into its final 12 months and approaching a natural expiry date at the end of the ongoing season, Pep Guardiola has been shown a clear message directly from the club’s supporters.

As organised by Manchester City supporter collective, ‘The 1894 Group’ alongside independent podcast channel, ’93:20′, over a £1,000 was raised in under 24 hours to produce a banner that read in Guardiola’s native Catalan language, ‘We Want You To Stay!!!’

Prior to the weekend, the subject of the banner was put to Guardiola to which he responded, “They have to bring me the bill; I will pay for the banner! I don’t want them to spend money for that reason!”

Now speaking to BBC Match of the Day after Manchester City’s 3-2 win over Fulham, Pep Guardiola was keen to state that he recognises and is grateful for the public show of affection from the club’s support at the Etihad Stadium.

“From the day one (I felt love from Manchester City’s fans), yeah. Definitely. The gratitude is immense, otherwise I would not be nine years here, it’s impossible,” Guardiola told Gary Lineker during a post-match interview.

He continued, “Of course the results help. In modern football, when you don’t win they sack you, we know that. They were happy to extend because we won. This is a business. It has to be like that.

“But apart from that, there are many, many details, many experiences that I lived in these many years, daily, during games, or not during games that made me feel part of this club deeply, deeply.”

Pep Guardiola will now have a further two weeks without interruption from Manchester City’s relentless schedule to rest and recover from a busy start to the season, but to perhaps also weigh up his options and future intent deeper.

Manchester City officials including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak would like to retain Guardiola into a 10th season at the Etihad Stadium, but will show him the ultimate respect for his achievements by not placing any pressure on the 54-year-old over a decision.