Pep Guardiola will enter his fifth season at Manchester City by arguing he has to deserve the new contract to ensure it is not his last.
The Catalan, who managed Barcelona for four seasons and Bayern Munich for three, is in the final year of his current deal.
He gave City hope he will extend his reign by talking of his love for life at the Etihad Stadium and saying that, as he enters uncharted territory for him, he remains as motivated as ever.
“I would not be here if I didn’t feel the fire or desire,” he said. “Still I have passion to do it and maybe more than ever.”
But Guardiola insisted results will dictate his future. He has won two Premier League titles with City but, while they retained the Carabao Cup last season, they finished 18 points behind champions Liverpool.
“I would love to stay longer here,” he said. “It is a place I love to be but I have to deserve it. This club achieved standards in the last decade but we have to maintain that and I have to deserve it.”
Not that Guardiola is under any pressure from his employers. The lines of communication with director of football Txiki Begiristain, chief executive Ferran Soriano and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak are open, but Guardiola is alone in putting such demands on himself.
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Manchester City 2019/20 season ratings
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“This is my mind,” he underlined. “We didn’t speak with the club in these terms. They didn’t push me from day one to today. I see Txiki and Ferran every day and I speak every week with Khaldoon. When it is going to happen, it is going to happen. The relationship is so strong in all departments so it will not be a problem for the club to do what we have to do in the future.”
If City hope they will not be looking for a new manager, there has already been a change of leadership on the field. With David Silva gone to Real Sociedad, a captain has been appointed. “Fernandinho,” Guardiola revealed. “The players and the staff vote on captains. The locker room decide Fernandinho is captain. I am more than delighted about this.”
The 35-year-old Brazilian has long felt a leader for him. “It doesn’t matter who has the armband or is the first captain, it is the guy who leads in the bad moments,” he explained. Fernandinho has done that.
City take on Wolves on Monday, with another of the senior figures out. Sergio Aguero underwent knee surgery in June and has not been able to train with the team yet. City's record goalscorer could be out until the second half of November. He might miss up to 12 games.
“Maybe in one or two months he will be ready,” Guardiola said. “Sergio is not a guy who regains the physical condition quickly.”
But there could be debuts at Molineux for Ferran Torres and Nathan Ake. City will be without Aymeric Laporte, who only returned to training on Friday after recovering from coronavirus, which increases Ake’s chances of starting. Guardiola confirmed he sees the Netherlands international much more as a central defender than as the first-choice left-back.
Guardiola will be able to make fewer changes after the Premier League voted to revert to three substitutions per side, a move he opposed.
“I don’t understand why, when everyone is concerned about Covid-19 and is not allowed to go to the restaurants and is not allowed to do what you want to do, in this incredible period you cannot protect the players with five substitutes,” he said. “You have to protect the players.”
Villains
Queens of the Stone Age
Matador
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
Teaching in coronavirus times
PROFILE OF INVYGO
Started: 2018
Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo
Based: Dubai
Sector: Transport
Size: 9 employees
Investment: $1,275,000
Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Other workplace saving schemes
- The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
- Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
- National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
- In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
- Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
MAIN CARD
Bantamweight 56.4kg
Abrorbek Madiminbekov v Mehdi El Jamari
Super heavyweight 94 kg
Adnan Mohammad v Mohammed Ajaraam
Lightweight 60kg
Zakaria Eljamari v Faridoon Alik Zai
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Mahmood Amin v Taha Marrouni
Light welterweight 64.5kg
Siyovush Gulmamadov v Nouredine Samir
Light heavyweight 81.4kg
Ilyass Habibali v Haroun Baka
Groom and Two Brides
Director: Elie Semaan
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
Stuck in a job without a pay rise? Here's what to do
Chris Greaves, the managing director of Hays Gulf Region, says those without a pay rise for an extended period must start asking questions – both of themselves and their employer.
“First, are they happy with that or do they want more?” he says. “Job-seeking is a time-consuming, frustrating and long-winded affair so are they prepared to put themselves through that rigmarole? Before they consider that, they must ask their employer what is happening.”
Most employees bring up pay rise queries at their annual performance appraisal and find out what the company has in store for them from a career perspective.
Those with no formal appraisal system, Mr Greaves says, should ask HR or their line manager for an assessment.
“You want to find out how they value your contribution and where your job could go,” he says. “You’ve got to be brave enough to ask some questions and if you don’t like the answers then you have to develop a strategy or change jobs if you are prepared to go through the job-seeking process.”
For those that do reach the salary negotiation with their current employer, Mr Greaves says there is no point in asking for less than 5 per cent.
“However, this can only really have any chance of success if you can identify where you add value to the business (preferably you can put a monetary value on it), or you can point to a sustained contribution above the call of duty or to other achievements you think your employer will value.”
Past winners of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
2016 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2014 Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2012 Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus)
2011 Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2010 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2009 Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
