Pep Guardiola has dismissed suggestions Enzo Maresca will replace him at the end of the season, insisting he will decide when he leaves Manchester City.
Chelsea parted company with Maresca on New Year’s Day after a run of one win in seven games.
While form was a concern, there were further issues at play behind the scenes, including Maresca holding talks over a move to take over from Guardiola at the Etihad.
Maresca himself strongly dismissed those reports in December. Guardiola has 18 months left on his contract in Manchester but hit back at suggestions his time at the helm is coming to an end.
‘You want to fire me?’ said Guardiola, when asked about Maresca’s City talks and the possibility of him leaving in the summer. ‘My salary is so high, so I have one more year.
Asked if he intends to be in charge next season, Guardiola continued: ‘Oh my God. I have a contract, I’ve said it a thousand million times.
‘I know you are bored of me, 10 years here. You want (me to leave)? Yeah, I’m pretty sure of that.
‘You know, I will leave one day. I promise. I promise. But I have a contract. I’m happy, I want to fight with my team. The hierarchy respect me. They proved it last season with what happened in this club, that we didn’t win one game in two, three months. They support me.
‘So what can I do? I want to try and do it (next season), but maybe one day, I don’t know.
‘But I have one more year (on my) contract. I like to be here, so we will see. We will see. I’ve said it a thousand million times about that.’
City host Chelsea on Sunday in their first game without Maresca in the dugout. The Italian led City’s Under-23 side and worked alongside Guardiola before seeking bigger challenges elsewhere and believes the Blues have lost an ‘incredible’ manager.
‘Only I can say that Chelsea, I think from my point of view, lose an incredible, incredible manager. Incredible person. But it’s a decision from the hierarchy from Chelsea, so (I have) nothing to say.’
