Pep Guardiola will win the Champions League with Manchester City if he signs a new contract at the club, where he has everything he needs.
That is the view of former City defender turned pundit Micah Richards, who believes no other club can offer Guardiola what he has at the Etihad. Guardiola's contract expires at the end of the season, with the Catalan calm over an extension, saying last week that everything was 'under control' and that he couldn't replicate his seven years at City anywhere else.
And with the Champions League the only trophy left for Guardiola to win at City, Richards feels an extension and the European Cup will come hand in hand.
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"He's got to stay! He can't [leave]. Where would he go?" Richards said to MEN Sport and other media.
"Unless he wants to go manage Spain. He's got everything here, enjoys it here. He's done unbelievable things. He's still got to win the Champions League, and I believe he will if he stays. He's been unlucky so many occasions. I can't see him leaving for at least three or four years. Why would you? He's the boss.
"I didn't grow up supporting City, when I came here at 14 you see the fans and club and fall in love. You think about what Pep's actually done, four Premier Leagues in the last five years, getting to the Champions League final. He's a genius. I'm not hearing it from anyone.
"People can talk about spend. Remember his first season when City didn't really do it, expecting a little bit more, then it just changed. He was waiting to change the whole formula. Klopp as well, Klopp's brilliant, but the way Pep's got them playing - you never thought City could ever play like this. This is the best team since Pep's arrived."
So could that side get any better? Does it need to?
The name on Richards' mind is Borussia Dortmund and England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who looks set to be the next big talent and will have all the big clubs trying to sign him next summer. A transfer fee may be prohibitive, but Richards feels Guardiola could get the best out of the 19-year-old if a signing could materialise.
"Look what he's doing. Captaining Dortmund at 19," Richards said. "100 per cent I would love to see him at City. I would have thought Liverpool would go for him.
"He's not going to be cheap, he'll be £100m. I don't like talking about other players but he's English. To see him going to Dortmund so young, why didn't the English teams get him? I know Man United tried to get him from Birmingham and didn't materialise.
"I just think with City it's always difficult. It's always extra. Extra money. What's he going to cost? £100m? £150m? Is that the route City want to go down? Before Grealish signed, what was the most [they spent on a player], Dias at £60m? People talk about City's spend but it's only Grealish who's really smashed that record. The way City are doing things I'm not sure they want to go down that £100m+ route.
"As a player he'd be brilliant. They've got Rodri who I love. I was unsure at the start, the way he turned was slow. Now he gets really tight, dictates the game. Don't forget we've got Phillips as well. Gundogan's captain, I still think that midfield's got a good few years left but if you're looking at the next batch, Bellingham's the one.
"Everyone's already talking about him. I always watch players when they play City and how good they do. When Dortmund played City, he always plays well. Imagine him being managed by Pep, getting the best out of him."
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