Manchester City: Pep Guardiola is offering to pay for a fan-made banner urging him to stay at the club

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola joked he would pay fans compensation after learning they would put up a new banner asking him to stay at the club.

The 1894 Group, which organizes flag and banner displays at the Etihad Stadium, raised more than £1,000 in just 24 hours to create a banner.

It is due to be displayed in the South Stand when Fulham visit at 3pm BST on Saturday and will read “Pep Guardiola, we want you to stay” in his native Catalan.

“You have to bring me the bill, I have to pay for the banner,” Guardiola said.

“What can I say? Thank you very much, I fell in love from the first day I arrived here, let’s see.”

Guardiola took the reins at Manchester City in July 2016 and his contract expires at the end of the current season, with no indication whether he will sign an extension.

The Spaniard has led City to 18 trophies, including six Premier League titles and a first Champions League title in the 2022/23 season.

They are currently second in the Premier League, a point behind leaders Liverpool, after drawing their last two games.

In July, Guardiola said he wanted to wait until the season had started to “see how everything goes and how connected we are” before making a decision about his future.

“If it's going to happen, it's going to happen,” Guardiola said at a press conference on Friday.

Manchester City are currently fighting 115 charges over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules.

That hearing, dubbed the “trial of the century in sport,” began on September 16 and is scheduled to last ten weeks, with a verdict expected in early 2025.

“I am part of this club deep in my bones and the best way to defend the club is to win games and do my job as well as I can,” Guardiola said when asked if it was necessary to defend and promote City.

“I will defend my club, I have trusted them for many, many years as an owner, as chairman of the relationship, as CEO and all the people who work here. I know her pretty well, much more than any of you.

“The best defense is to do our job to the best of our ability. Everyone who works here has their own responsibility.”

“I am part of this club, not just the manager. I love this club and it will always stay that way.”