Pep Guardiola refused to confirm reports he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season after a 1-1 draw with Bournemouth saw them miss out on the Premier League title as Arsenal were crowned champions.Widespread reports emerged on Monday that Guardiolas 10-year tenure at the Etihad Stadium will draw to a close after Sundays game with Aston Villa, with Enzo Maresca said to have a verbal agreement with City to take over as his replacement.The subject of Guardiolas future dominated the build-up to Citys game at Bournemouth, where they needed to claim all three points to keep the title race alive after Arsenals 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday.Instead, City produced a performance well below the standards Guardiola has set during his decade in charge.Junior Kroupi gave Bournemouth the lead with a stunning 39th-minute opener, and City were surprisingly blunt in their efforts to produce a response.A reply finally arrived in stoppage time as Erling Haaland crashed home a leveller, but it was too little, too late as Arsenal claimed a first title since the 2003-04 Invincibles season.Guardiola dismisses questions about exitGuardiola was unsurprisingly quizzed on reports of his departure after the game, and he predictably batted away the opportunity to confirm his exit. He told Sky Sports: I could say that I have one more year of contract, and with the conversations Ive had for many, many years, always from my experience when you announce whatever you announce during the competition is a bad, bad result. And like you understand, the first person I have to talk to is my chairman [Khaldoon Al Mubarak], because we both decided when we finish the season we will sit and we will talk. And its as simple as that, and after we will take the decisionI have one more year of contract. I will not tell you [a decision] here because I have to talk with my chairman, with my players, with my staff because when we play for the FA Cup, qualification for the Champions League, the Premier League its just one thing in my mind and focus: Try to bring the team to the highest point. And its what we have done.City looked to have control of the title race last month when they beat Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, with their subsequent 1-0 win at Burnley sending them top on goals scored.But a 3-3 draw at Everton on May 4 handed the initiative back to Arsenal, and Citys inability to beat Bournemouth ensured Guardiolas former assistant Mikel Arteta will lift his second major trophy as Gunners boss.Paying tribute to Arsenal, Guardiola said: On behalf of all at Manchester Citt and my team, congratulations Arsenal, Mikel [Arteta], his staff, backroom staff, all the players, fans for this Premier League they deserve it!While Guardiola may not be in charge next season, he vowed that City will be back to take the fight to Arsenal as they bid to avoid a third straight season without a league title.Next season, we will be back, and we will try to bring the team in that sense; competing until the end in competitions, Guardiola told his post-match press conference. And sometimes you win, sometimes you lose because the opponents are really good, really tough. And this is what we have to try again. Topics Manchester City F.C. Pep Guardiola Premier League Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester City: Report, result and goals as Cherries hand Arsenal title Nicholas McGee 19th May, 2026 Bournemouth v Manchester City: Kroupis curling finish puts Arsenal 45 minutes from title Nicholas McGee 19th May, 2026 LIVE Bournemouth v Manchester City: Commentary, updates, goals and stats as Arsenal watch on Jon Fisher 19th May, 2026 Bournemouth vs Manchester City: Premier League line-ups confirmed as visitors look to extend title race Mitch Fretton 19th May, 2026 Arsenal v Man City is not a battle for the purists but there are positives from largely forgettable Premier League season Jon Fisher 19th May, 2026 Manchester City: What Guardiola said of incoming Enzo Maresca Jon Fisher 19th May, 2026
