Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has denied that he was already planning his retirement at age 45, after saying he was “arriving at the end” of his career.
The Spaniard sparked speculation about his future after saying in an interview that he could not see himself still being in management when he reaches his 60s.
“I feel the process of my goodbye has already started,” Guardiola said. “I am arriving at the end of my coaching career, of this I am sure.”
He now says it was “inappropriate” to talk about life after football and insists he remains committed to City, where he has a contract until 2019, having only joined the club in July.
Read more:
■ Diego Forlan column: Jose Mourinho in process of returning Manchester United to good old days
■ Christmas period talking points: Chelsea defeat keeps title race alive, top six show gulf in class
■ Bold Premier Leauge predictions: Why Liverpool, not Chelsea, will win the title + four more
“I said in the interview that I won’t be a trainer when I’m 60. But I’m 45. I’m not going to retire in two or three years,” he said.
“I love my job and I’m in the perfect place to do my job, especially here in England. I’m not going to train at 60 because I want to do something else in my life.
“I started playing football young and my career was on the pitch. I want to do something else in my life, but in the next three, four, five, six or seven years. I said that at 60 or 65, I’m not going to train.
“Maybe it was inappropriate to say I’m starting to say goodbye to my career. Maybe it was inappropriate but I’m not thinking that I’m going to retire.”
Guardiola has had a testing first season in England, with City sitting fourth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Chelsea.
He gave two awkward television interviews after Monday’s 2-1 victory over Burnley, leading to suggestions that he might be feeling the pressure.
But he is adamant that he is enjoying the challenge of guiding City as they seek success on three fronts, including the FA Cup, in which they visit West Ham United for a third-round tie on Friday.
Guardiola also moved to clarify comments he made that suggested neighbours Manchester United are a bigger club than City.
The City manager said this week that it might take the club 10 years to match United because they do not have the same history when it comes to winning trophies.
But Guardiola believes that City are making fast progress — and that their future is bright.
“For Manchester City fans, Manchester City are the most important thing. Always that remains,” he said.
“When I said to compare the history and the titles, Liverpool, United, Barcelona and Real Madrid, and these kind of clubs, we are behind. If people don’t understand that, I’m sorry.
“In the last five or six years, I think Manchester City are the best club, the club who have achieved more targets of getting better and of growing the most, I think they are one of the best in the world by far.
“But in terms of the titles, just the titles, we are behind all those clubs in the last 20 years.
“Liverpool haven’t won the Premier League in 25 years, but in terms of titles, are better than Manchester City. But this club being a lesser club than those? I never said that.”
* Agence France-Presse
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
First Person
Richard Flanagan
Chatto & Windus
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES
September 30
South Africa v Australia
Argentina v New Zealand
October 7
South Africa v New Zealand
Argentina v Australia
