in England when he leaves Bayern Munich in the
summer.
Bayern announced last month that Guardiola had
decided not to extend his three-year deal with the
Bundesliga champions, and they have already
named Carlo Ancelotti as his successor.
"I want to coach in Premier League," Guardiola
told a news conference. "That is the reason I did
not prolong my contract."
The former Barcelona coach has been strongly
linked with Manchester City, but Manchester
United, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been
touted as potential options.
Guardiola dismissed suggestions that a deal with
City was already in place. "I have offers from
England, but I have not signed a contract yet,"
he said. "When I have a new contract, then we
will communicate it. I can't say more right now. I
have not signed a contract yet."
In 2013, he had replaced the Jupp Heynckes,
then 68 years old, as Bayern boss after the team
had won the treble.
"If I were as old as Jupp Heynckes was during his
last stint, I would have stayed," he said. "But I am
still young enough, only 44 -- I want a new
challenge now.
"Three years are enough. I am not comfortable
with staying at one club for 30 years. I want new
restaurants, a new city, a new challenge.
"When I got to Munich, people asked, 'Why
Germany and not England?' I want to experience
the emotions there. Why England? That's my
instinct right now."
Before last month's announcement that Guardiola
would be leaving, there had been various reports
detailing his apparent frustrations in Munich.
However, he said: "It was a dream, it is a dream. I
am very grateful to FC Bayern for this huge
opportunity.
"The club have given me an exceptional squad
here. Maybe the folks don't understand it, but I
need new challenges, to experience new
emotions, to try it in a new stadium.
"I need new challenges in my career. I need to
test myself in new situations. Changes are also
good for the clubs. I think it's good for everyone --
for the journalists too."
It had been reported that Guardiola's wife was
reluctant to move to Manchester, but he played
down that idea, citing his time as a player with
Brescia in Italy.
"The people in the city are important," he said. "I
have lived in Brescia -- it's not a beautiful town."
Several Premier League games, including
Manchester United's 0-0 draw with Chelsea and
those involving Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool, have
been screened in Germany during the
Bundesliga's winter break, and a Sport Bild
journalist asked Guardiola about the "terrible
football" in the English top flight.
However, Guardiola appeared to misunderstand
the question, replying: "That's why I like that. I
like to take risks."
He also dismissed the idea that he would look to
take players from the Allianz Arena to his next
club, saying: "FC Bayern Munich players have to
stay here next season. I have great respect."
It had been hoped that Guardiola, a two-time
Champions League winner at Barca, would lead
Bayern to further European success after their
2013 triumph, but they have been eliminated at
the semifinal stage in both of his attempts so far.
"The Champions League is always down to
momentum," he said. "I want to win the
Champions League. ... That's my wish. We will try
it. But things happen in Champions League.
"The media say that, should we not win the
Champions League, my job here would be
incomplete. I understand that. I can handle that
pressure. But it's not easy to win Champions
League."
He also praised the appointment of former AC
Milan, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss Ancelotti.
"Congratulations to the club and Carlo," he said.
"It's a perfect decision. I want to leave him the
best squad.
"[Bayern CEO] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has done
a great job. One coach leaves, the other one
comes in. Stability is the most important thing.
The squad is important at the moment. The
squad has won with Jupp Heynckes, they have
won with us, and they will win with Ancelotti."
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