MADRID -- Pep Guardiola has said he wants to remain at Bayern Munich for two more years, dismissing any suggestion he could be a contender for the Manchester United job.
• Delaney: United contenders
• Sources: United move for Van Gaal
• Klopp rules out United job
Guardiola took charge of the defending European champions in the summer after a year away from the game, but he recently said he would be willing to leave at the end of the season if the club were not satisfied with his work.
Speaking on the eve of his team’s Champions League semifinal first leg against Real Madrid, Guardiola laughed when asked if he might have an interest in replacing David Moyes at Old Trafford but then insisted that he feels he can make Bayern even better.
The former Barcelona boss, who has already secured the German league title this season, said: “I am here I am at Bayern and I want to stay two more years here.
“We won the Bundesliga but I feel our team can improve so I know perfectly the style in Spain but I had to change to a new culture, to the ideas in Germany and I need more time to feel this is really my team.
“I feel Bayern now is my team but I feel we can play better, we can improve and I think I still have work to do. I am comfortable here. The people [at Bayern] are gentlemanly and, after that [when he leaves], I don't know what will happen.”
Bayern’s press officer then interjected, saying: “Tell the people of England, ‘No chance!’”
Guardiola said he was not surprised by the news of Moyes’ dismissal, which came after less than 10 months in the job.
“It is nothing new,” he said. “For the past five, 10, 15 years at the big clubs, if you lose, you are out on the street. If you don't win you are always in danger of losing your job. At the big teams, the only thing that counts is winning.”
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, who has also been touted as a potential successor, told his prematch news conference that he had not expected United to sack their manager, with Sir Alex Ferguson having served for over 26 years before his retirement last year.
“I have sympathy for David Moyes,” Ancelotti said. “In general, this is the coach’s life -- when things do not go well, you have to leave. It is normal. Moyes will have another team, another opportunity.
“I was surprised a little as Man United do not usually do this. In another club it might be normal, but after 24 years [sic] of Sir Alex, it is a bit surprising.”