Michael Owen described Pep Guardiola’s contract extension as the ‘worst possible news’ for any team with ambitions to win the Premier League.
Guardiola’s Manchester City side has won the title in six of the eight years that he has been at the club, and his new deal will see him remain in Manchester until 2027.
City started this season in typically impressive fashion, topping the table after nine matches, but Guardiola’s men suffered successive league defeats prior to the international break to allow Liverpool to open up a five-point lead in first place.
City also suffered losses in the Carabao Cup and Champions League, meaning the club is on its worst run of results since it last suffered four defeats in a row back in 2006, but Owen is clearly confident that Guardiola will soon put things right.
He wrote on social media platform X: “The worst possible news for teams with aspirations of winning the Premier League – Pep Guardiola has signed a contract extension.”
Liverpool was involved in some memorable title tussles with Guadiola’s City during Jurgen Klopp’s time at the club, coming out on top in 2020 and narrowly missing out in 2019 and 2022.
And Guardiola unsurprisingly made it clear in the contract announcement that he intends to have City challenging clubs like Liverpool for major silverware in the years ahead.
“Manchester City means so much to me,” Guardiola said. “This is my ninth season here; we have experienced so many amazing times together. I have a really special feeling for this football club. That is why I am so happy to be staying for another two more seasons.
“Thank you to everyone for continuing to trust and support me – The Owner, The Chairman Khaldoon, Ferran, Txiki, the players and of course the fans… everyone connected to Manchester City. It has always been an honour, a pleasure and a privilege to be here.
“I have said this many times before, but I have everything a manager could ever wish for, and I appreciate that so much. Hopefully now we can add more trophies to the ones we have already won. That will be my focus.”
