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Guardiola and Sterling planning Man City stay despite UEFA ban (Sky Sports)

  /  autty

Pep Guardiola and Raheem Sterling are planning to stay at Manchester City despite UEFA banning them from European competitions for the next two seasons.

They have been forced to sit out all UEFA tournaments until the 2022/23 season, and were also handed a £24.9m fine.

That has led to speculation Guardiola, whose only season outside the Champions League as a manager came when he was in charge of Barcelona's B side during the 2007/08 campaign, could choose to walk away from Man City.

However, he is understood to have told his players that he is committed to the club and will not leave.

Guardiola's deal expires at the end of the 2020/21 season and he has no intention of cutting it short. The 49-year-old has never broken a contract as a manager.

As well as Guardiola, Sterling is also understood to be totally committed to City and will not push for a move, despite the absence of European football.

The 25-year-old and his team-mates are believed to be focusing on finishing the season strongly - particularly in the Champions League, given it could be their last season in the competition for two years.

Sterling and the rest of City's players are leaving the handling of the UEFA ban to the club's hierarchy.