Pep Guardiola says he will support Manchester City even if they are relegated for alleged breaches of financial rules, claiming that “75%” of rival clubs want them relegated.
Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at City until 2027.
The 53-year-old has committed his future to the club, although no decision on the 115 Premier League charges City will face is expected until early next year.
City deny any wrongdoing, but sanctions in the event of a guilty verdict could range from a huge fine to points deductions or even relegation.
Guardiola said 12 months ago he would manage them in League One if necessary.
He repeated the sentiment on Friday ahead of the Premier League match against Tottenham.
“I said that six months ago. You have my interviews,” he said.
“I said it when all the clubs accused us of doing something wrong and people say ‘what happens if we get relegated?’ I’ll be here.
“I don’t know the position they are going to bring us, the Conference? [But] Next year we will go up and return to the Premier League.
“I knew it then, I feel it now.”
However, Guardiola said the issue was not in his thoughts when he decided to extend his stay, and that repairing the damage of four consecutive defeats for the first time in his coaching career was more urgent.
“I read something about the situation and that we have to descend immediately,” he added.
“Seventy-five percent of the clubs want it, because I know what they do behind the scenes and that kind of thing. But I don’t live with that, I live with the four defeats, what I have to do. There are lawyers on both sides. “I don’t think about that.”
