Pep Guardiola Tight-Lipped On City Future With Treble Pending

Even with all the question marks surrounding Manchester City, the brilliance of Pep Guardiola's management of the team is abundantly clear.

The Spaniard has won four league titles in six seasons so far in Manchester, with a fifth on the verge of being confirmed this season.

He looks to be guiding this season's team towards a treble - in what would not only be the club's greatest ever achievement, but one of the greatest in English football history.

So much of this City team's dominance is down to the influence of Guardiola in charge, so the prospect of him stepping away from his role is one which will strike fear into the hearts of their fans.

In an interview with Sky Sports this week, the prospect of Guardiola leaving his role should City win the treble was raised - and Pep didn't deny the thought had entered his mind.

Pep Guardiola refuses to rule out Manchester City departure

There will be a sense of completion to Pep Guardiola's mission at Manchester City if the team win the Champions League this season. The European Cup remains the one accolade which has evaded this team, with many near misses over the years.

It could form part of an historic treble, should City confirm their Premier League title, beat Manchester United in June's FA Cup final, and seal European glory a week later against Internazionale.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of this weekend's Premier League action, Guardiola was asked whether the treble would mark the culmination of his masterplan at City - and whether he would be enticed to step away should they achieve it.

He refused to give a definitive answer, saying that he would need to see how he felt, should City achieve the monumental feat:

First we have to win it! And after, ask me the question and I will tell you how I feel, how I think.

Of course [I've thought about it]. We have three games in each competition to do it - that's what the reality is.

The Premier League has three matches left. You are going to tell me that our city rivals United will be an easy game?

I'm thinking on that. After, of course, when we can achieve it, then I will tell you.

Champions League glory with Manchester City this season would see Pep Guardiola become only the sixth manager ever to win the European Cup with more than one club, joining Carlo Ancelotti, Ernst Happel, Ottmar Hitzfeld, Jose Mourinho, and Jupp Heynckes.

It would certainly be an historic achievement, and the perfect note on which to depart - but time will tell if Guardiola's side even manage to achieve the elusive treble.

They can seal the Premier League title this weekend with victory against Chelsea on Sunday - but it could be sealed even earlier if Arsenal lose to Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening.

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