Article #17486

• Club making contingency plans should Guardiola decide to leave

• City visit Everton on Monday trailing leaders Arsenal by six points

Pep Guardiola has said he remains as motivated as ever after almost a decade managing Manchester City as he chases a seventh Premier League title. His comments come amid a backdrop of the club making contingency plans to replace the Spaniard if he decides to leave in the summer. Guardiola has a further year remaining on his contract but City have made Enzo Maresca a leading candidate to take over as head coach, should a change be required.

Guardiola is focused on his first visit to Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday to face Everton, aiming to close the six-point gap on Arsenal. The Gunners have played twice since City’s last league match, defeating Newcastle and Fulham.