Pep Guardiola says Manchester City's response to the coronavirus pandemic was a key factor in convincing him that he was at the right club.
Speaking to the media for the first time since signing a new two-year contract extension, Guardiola explained how a conversation with chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak was the key factor in convincing him to sign the new deal that will keep him at the club until 2023.
But as well as the footballing assurances given by his chairman, Guardiola also pointed to City's actions this year when the world was forced to suddenly deal with all the implications of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Many reasons, one of the main things is the conversations, two or three times, with Khaldoon that was a key point," he said of his reasons for staying at the Etihad.
"And after the squad, the city, the club, the organisation of the club especially and how they behave in an incredibly difficult period this season. For example in the furlough, we didn’t ask the government, and the [NHS used the Etihad]. The club didn’t fire one person. The whole entire club continued with his job, when it’s so difficult to get the wages for all the workers, not just the players. Even pay the bonuses they deserved for last season.
"For that reason the club they showed me how good they are in many things, and after the conversation with Khaldoon it made a difference and we decided together to continue two more years."
On the pitch, Guardiola says there are no expectations of titles to add to his collection, as he insisted he owes the club thanks for the opportunity to continue - rather than receiving any gratitude himself.
He explained: "I'm not thinking much right now about titles. It will be good to do what we have done in the last three years. It's difficult. But we are thinking week by week to do a good job and we'll see at the end what we deserve.
"All the managers are there to win titles. We did an incredible job to win two titles last year and eight in the last three years. The job is not to win titles, it's to win tomorrow then we see what happens.
"We spoke a lot with Txiki [Begiristain], Khaldoon and analyse what we have done, what we can do. I say an incredible thank you for the opportunity to continue here. People say thanks to me but I say thanks to the club.
"They are the reason I am still here. They gave me a lot, in the four seasons and we want to continue trying to do our best as possible."
