Pep Guardiola undecided on Barcelona future

BARCELONA, Spain (AP)—Barcelona coach Pep
Guardiola still hasn’t decided whether to extend
his trophy-laden stay at the Catalan club.
“I have not taken any decision,” Guardiola said
Tuesday. “If I had, the president would already
know about it.”
Guardiola has won 13 of a possible 15 trophies
since taking charge of Barcelona in 2008,
including two Champions League titles and three
straight Spanish league titles.
The 40-year-old coach’s current deal expires at
the end of the season and his delay in signing an
extension has sent rumors flying that he intends
to quit while at the top.
Barcelona president Sandro Rosell said in
December he hoped Guardiola would agree to
stay on.
“He knows he can do what he wants, the
decision is his to take,” Rosell said, according to
Europa Press Agency. “We will do all we can to
make sure he can’t say no.”
Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelo Bielsa has been
mentioned recently as a possible successor and
Guardiola said the Argentine would be a good
choice.
Guardiola also dodged a question about replacing
Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, saying he
hoped the 70-year-old Scot would keep going for
“a few more years.”
Barcelona hosts Osasuna in the Copa del Rey last
16 on Wednesday, as the Spanish season
resumes following the winter break.
Guardiola said he would decide Wednesday
whether star forward Lionel Messi, who resumed
training with the squad Tuesday, would play
against Osasuna.