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Guardiola to hold imminent talks with City chairman about his future

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola reacts on the touchline during the English Premier League soccer match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City at the Vitality Stadium. John Walton/PA Wire/dpa

Pep Guardiola plans to hold imminent talks with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak about his future amid reports he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after second-placed City failed to take the title race to the final day following Tuesday's 1-1 draw against a Bournemouth team bound for Europe.

Build-up to the must-win game on the south coast was dominated by news of Guardiola's possible summer departure, with Enzo Maresca rumoured to be his potential successor.

The City manager, who has a year remaining on his contract, refused to clarify the situation as he turns his attention to Sunday’s season finale at home to Aston Villa.

"With the club, I always talk but not now," said Guardiola.

"Three, four seasons ago when there was one year left, the first thing you have to understand, I should talk with my chairman first.

"And when I talk with my chairman, we (may) decide to have one more year, we will talk (about) everything and we will decide. We (will) talk in the next days."

City arrived in Dorset seeking to keep alive their pursuit of a domestic treble after lifting the FA Cup on Saturday following Carabao Cup glory in March.

Erling Haaland cancelled out Junior Kroupi's first-half opener in the fifth minute of added time but the visitors were unable to force a last-gasp winner as Guardiola was denied a potential fairytale farewell.

Travelling fans chanted "one more year, one more year, Guardiola" during the game, while one fan unfurled a bedsheet with "Pep Stay" written on it.

Referring to the potential negative impact of a manager announcing his departure ahead of time, Guardiola continued: "I always said that when you are fighting for the titles or FA Cups, in the first moment there is a problem the players don’t follow you anymore.

"You have to stay there and I have to talk with my chairman and I say 'let the season go and when it will be over we will talk.' But he deserves the first talk about what we have to do."

City are now an unassailable four points adrift of table-topping Arsenal.

Guardiola, who began his post-match press conference by congratulating the Gunners and their manager Mikel Arteta, initially used the word "we" when asked about his club’s future prospects, before saying "City."

"Next season, we will be back," said the 55-year-old, who has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during his 10-year reign.

"City will be back and we will try to bring the team in that sense: competing until the end in the competitions."

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