FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola assured that he would not leave the club stranded without a coach on Tuesday.
Guardiola, who celebrates his 40th birthday on Tuesday, was responding to a question about possible moves to extend his contract with Barca.
His current deal expires at the end of this season and the fear is that he could decide to leave Barcelona after three seasons in charge during which he has already won two league titles, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey as well as the Spanish and European Supercups, as well as the World Club Championships.
Barcelona fans will not have been happy to hear Guardiola's words in which he admitted that he would not stay at the club all of his career.
"When a coach has been a certain time at a club, things can become routine and in those moments you have to separate yourself from them," said the Barcelona coach, who then moved to reassure those watching the conference, which was broadcast on GolT.
"There is still a long time left on my contract, so let me work in peace, the club knows that I will never leave them stranded. The club is solid, the players have all renewed their contract and there is continuity, which is vital."
Guardiola insisted that remaining as coach was not vital to Barcelona's continued success.
"If they don't have this coach, they will have another coach. It's not good for a club to depend on just one coach. The club is strong and it will carry on, but what I won't do is tell them my decision two days before its time. We will sit down calmly, put our affairs on the table and take a decision."
"I need time to see things and it's already been shown that the club will continue," said Guardiola. The Barcelona coach also discussed his side's Copa del Rey quarterfinal return leg away to Betis. He insisted his players had to take the match seriously despite their 5-0 win in the first leg.
He also added that his side's four point advantage over Real Madrid in the La Liga was far from decisive.
"Maybe you'd say that four points were a good lead with another team, but if there is a team that has lots of lives it is Real Madrid and that advantage is nothing," said Guardiola.