As the night draws in and the clock is about to strike midnight BST, Manchester City will embark on an away trip to challenge Ipswich in the 22nd round of the Premier League. In this tense pre-match atmosphere, the Pep Guardiola boss gave an in-depth interview to Sky Sports, talking about his reasons for staying at the Blue Moon and his outlook on Harland's future contract extension until 2034.
Facing the team's recent upsets and his personal future in the team, Guardiola confessed, "Life is unpredictable and we can't always be at the top. People expect us to always be optimistic, always show a smile in front of the camera, but this is only the ideal. When adversity comes, we should face the challenge, not avoid it. I chose to stay at City because I know the challenges and the value of the place and I don't want to regret not giving my best in the future. Even if we have had one or two bad seasons, that's part of life. We may have overestimated success, but side by side with the club, we will certainly try to bounce back and do our best."
Speaking about Harland's contract extension until 2034, Guardiola was overflowing with excitement: "I could hardly believe it when Ferran Soriano told me about Harland's contract extension. It was like a bolt from the blue for me. Both parties are eager to extend their contracts and this is great news for the club. Harland, a very talented player, will be crucial to the club's development over the next ten years. His choice to extend his contract stems from his deep affection and trust in City, and he sees the club's potential and challenge in the Premier League. Even when we were at a low ebb, his choice was a sign of trust for everyone involved. The fact that he foresaw the changes ahead and yet still wanted to play for the club is testament to everything."
Guardiola further added: "Harland's love for the Premier League is a great compliment to our club and to everyone. He has chosen to stay here for numerous reasons, including the unrivaled club culture, team atmosphere and improved performances year on year. I am confident that Harland will continue to bring glory and victory to City for years to come."
