London: Pep Guardiola has told friends he is going to remain as manager of Manchester City even if the appeal against their two-year European football ban is rejected by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), according to media reports on Monday. The 49-year-old Spaniard is said by The Times to have told both the City board and the players he will be staying despite the sanction and reported interest from Serie A champions Juventus. Guardiola, who has been at City for four years, reportedly told the players of his intention at a meeting on Saturday.

"Look, whatever league we are in, I will still be here," Guardiola told them according to Sky Sports News. "Even if they put us in League Two, I will still be here. This is a time for sticking together." He is likely to confirm this at the press conference on Wednesday following the re-arranged Premier League match with West Ham. The match on February 9 was postponed due to Storm Ciara. The Sun claims the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has told friends he is going to at least see out his contract with the club which runs until 2021.