Manuel Pellegrini's new Manchester City contract does little to support the theory that Pep Guardiola is set to take charge at the Etihad Stadium next year, Bayern Munich sporting executive Matthias Sammer has said.
Guardiola has just one year remaining on his contract at Bayern and has been widely tipped to leave the Allianz Arena and take charge at City next summer.
The former Barcelona coach said himself late last month that he had made no decision on his future and, with Pellegrini having extended his contract last week, Sammer said reports that Guardiola had already agreed a deal with City look to be wide of the mark.
"We've had a lot of discussions about the coach in recent days," Sammer told Sky. "However, that Manuel Pellegrini has signed a new deal until 2017 at Manchester City is bad for the theory that Pep will be the new coach there in 2016."
Guardiola, who is set to hold talks on his Bayern future later this year, has come under heavy scrutiny in recent months despite the club's domestic dominance.
He has led Bayern to successive Bundesliga titles as well as the 2013-14 DFB Pokal during his two years at the club, and a recent poll saw them backed to retain the title this season by 16 of the 18 coaches in the German top flight.
However, the nature of their defeats to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the Champions League semifinals over the last two seasons have raised questions over Guardiola's work, while there is concern over his influence on transfers, with Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger having left and Mario Gotze's future in doubt.
Sammer suggested there was a sense of surprise, and a little irritation, at the media sniping.
"We have been the top of the league for the past three years, and we've won many titles, but still it is a bit awkward when a little dog pees on your leg," he said.
Should Guardiola depart when his contract expires, Bayern will need to identify a replacement.
Jurgen Klopp, who has rejected the chance to manage Marseille, was touted for the job by Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke, while Borussia Monchengladbach sporting executive Max Eberl more recently told the Rheinische Post that Foals coach Lucien Favre would be a strong candidate.
Sammer, though, said he was paying little attention to those comments.
He said: "Those in charge at one club add their voice and say, 'Ah, that coach could train Bayern Munich,' and the next day another director says that their own coach might also be available.
"I can only say that we don't take it too seriously. But we don't underestimate the situation. We know that we are under pressure. Should we be fifth or sixth in the table after eight match days, criticism would be OK, but right now it brings a weary smile."