Guardiola: I'll stay at Manchester City 'if they don't sack me'

Pep Guardiola insisted his trust in Manchester City is unwavering as the club protests its two-year European ban and said he will only leave the back-to-back Premier League champions if he’s sacked.

City beat West Ham United 2-0 on Wednesday in their first match since being barred from continental competitions and fined €30 million for allegedly breaching UEFA’s Financial Fair Play regulations. The club is expected to lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the coming days.

“It’s not finished. The club believes it’s unfair so we are going to appeal,” Guardiola told Sky Sports after the midweek win at the Etihad Stadium, as relayed by BBC Sport.

There were rumors that Guardiola would seek a new job after UEFA shut Manchester City out of the Champions League for two seasons, but the Spanish manager pledged his loyalty to the club in the post-match interview.

“If they don’t sack me I will stay here 100% more than ever,” he said. “First because I want to stay. It’s something special, more than the contract I have. I said before, I say now, I want to stay and help the club and maintain this level as long as possible.”

Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne scored in the professional win over West Ham. The final result could have been more one-sided, but Gabriel Jesus was guilty of missing easy chances and Sergio Aguero was denied a penalty when Angelo Ogbonna knocked him over in the area.

“We are going to fight like we have fought every single game and day we are together until the end of the season,” Guardiola said. “We are optimistic that at the end the truth will prevail and next season we will be in the Champions League.”