Manuel Pellegrini backs Pep Guardiola as future Manchester City coach

Guardiola, 44, is approaching the end of his three-year contract and had promised there will be “clarity” on his plans next week, with the club’s CEO, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, having previously said there would be a final discussion after the game against Hannover on Saturday.

“Rummnigge has said that we will talk the day after the Hanover game and that is still the case”, said Guardiola after the win over Hanover while Rummenigge refused to comment.

“I am convinced that Pep and our team will now work even more intensively towards achieving our major sporting goals – especially as it is now confirmed that Pep is to leave”.

Bayern are top of the league this season and through to the Champions League knockout stage and can still win the treble.

FC’s Craig Burley feels Carlo Ancelotti would excel at Bayern Munich if Pep Guardiola were to leave this summer.

“If I finish this season winning the Premier League, and in three years winning two Premier Leagues with one runner-up, that is very important”.

Pep Guardiola’s future has also been subjected to a lot of speculation, with Manchester City believed to be the front-runners for his signature. “That was not our best season, I admit, but at least it was not a disaster”.

Pellegrini, who won the Premier League and Capital One Cup with City in 2014, said he understood that speculation is always present among the world’s largest clubs.

Bayern’s players says “Thank you for everything” to their supporters after the German soccer cup (DFB Pokal) match between FC Bayern Munich and SV Darmstadt 98 at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015. “I’ve taken on three jobs during a season, with Juve, Milan and PSG, and they all turned out to be negative”.

Earlier reports revealed the Catalan coach had already informed the leadership of Bayern of his decision not to renew at the end of his contract, valid until the end of the season.

“When I heard of the club’s interest, I didn’t want to consider any other offer”.

The Gunners have not won the league since 2004.

“The best manager in the world is definitely Guardiola and when he becomes available people are going to be interested, and I think United are no different”.

“It’s not my problem because I don’t think for them”.