Pep Guardiola makes leaving admission and explains Man City exit process

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola faced the media on Friday lunchtime for the first time in a fortnight ahead of the return of Premier League football.

The top flight has been in pause for the latest international break but resumes this weekend with City on the road at Wolves. But it was off pitch matters that dominated the headlines when Guardiola spoke.

He discussed the England job which he was heavily linked to, his future and the departure of Sporting Director Tixi Bergstein. Here’s the headlines from the Etihad.

READ MORE: Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Man City future after England approach

READ MORE: 'Part of me is leaving' - Pep Guardiola reacts to big Man City exit

Pep on England links

Pep Guardiola does not feel rushed into making a decision on his Manchester City future with his contract running out.

City are waiting for Guardiola to choose whether he wants to walk away from the Etihad when his contract runs out in July, or if he is up for extending his stay into a tenth year. The departure of sporting director Txiki Begiristain, with Hugo Viana announced as his replacement, is a reminder that the club is changing.

Guardiola insists that he hasn't yet made his mind up, nor has he been asked for a deadline by his bosses for him to do so. While the manager insists that he will not be around forever - although he will not be the next England manager despite an approach in summer - he is happy that the club will be able to move on without him.

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Part of me is leaving

Pep Guardiola is leaving the friend who calms him down at Manchester City after Txiki Begiristain's departure was announced.

Begiristain, who took over as sporting director in 2012 and has developed a reputation as one of the best in the business after more than a decade of success with the Blues, is leaving at the end of the season. He will be replaced by Sporting's Hugo Viana, who will start working with Begiristain in February before taking over full-time in July after the Club World Cup.

Guardiola must decide whether he signs a new deal before the end of the season with his contract up in 2025, but he cannot hide the fact that Begiristain leaving will be a blow for him. As the man who trusted him with the Barcelona reins at the start of his coaching career, after being teammates at the club, the pair have plenty of shared history.

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