Yahoo Sport 
What Pep Guardiola staying at Man City means for NSWE and Aston Villa
The news that Pep Guardiola has agreed a one-year contract extension with Manchester City came as a blow to their rivals.
The uncertainty over Guardiola’s future has been cited by some as a reason for the team's poor form after they lost four matches in all competitions before the November international break. The 53-year-old joined City eight years ago and has won 18 trophies so far, including six Premier League titles in the last seven seasons.
His contract was due to expire at the end of this season alongside director of football Txiki Begiristain, who will be departing after playing a key role in the club's success during Guaridola's tenure.
READ MORE: £17m Aston Villa signing finally comes good after contract ripped up
READ MORE: Monchi has removed Aston Villa’s main transfer issue but still faces two decisions
READ | £17m Aston Villa signing finally comes good after contract ripped up
READ | Jhon Duran hits back at criticism as he's given suspension
Now Guardiola's future has been cleared up, at least for another year, City will be fully focused on hunting Liverpool down in top spot and also pursuing their second Champions League. But how does Guardiola's future impact Villa?
Since Emery returned to Premier League football two years ago, only City, Liverpool and Arsenal have collected more points than Villa. They are the fourth best team in England as they proved last season and over the course of 24 months.
Consistency is the key for Villa to give themselves the best chance of challenging season after season. Equally, a lack of consistency at other clubs has benefited them.
Despite spending over £1bn in the transfer market since the summer of 2022, Chelsea have finished below Villa twice. In 2022/23, the Blues dropped to 12th, before they clawed back a respectable finish of sixth last term.
In the end, Chelsea only finished five points behind Villa despite never being in the conversation for a top four finish in the final months of the campaign. Manchester United also struggled in the league and ended the season in eighth position, while Villa have finished above Tottenham for the second year running.
It was unlikely that City would have plummeted next season if Guardiola left in the summer, but it would have given a club like Villa added incentive due to the unpredictability of the division. Arsenal currently sit in fourth position in the league, but are just one point ahead of Villa, and have made a poor start by the standards they have set in recent years.
Mikel Arteta's side have faced tricky away matches up until now, but are off the pace at the top of the league. Perhaps a top four finish will become the target for them the longer the season develops. City, who are only four points better off than Arsenal and five to Villa, have clarity about Guardiola's future so any doubts from the dressing room have now been put to bed. It's hard to see their struggles continuing in the months to come as a result.
Villa's manager Emery isn't going anywhere, but Guardiola's commitment removes media speculation because if he had departed, then his compatriot would have been mentioned as a potential successor.
Emery has worked a miracle at Villa considering the restrictions which the club faces to improve the squad. Instead, his coaching and meticulous planning at Bodymoor Heath has put the club in a position where it can compete among the elite.
Villa's football department is one of the most stable in the top-flight, which is a huge plus as it allows the club to think long-term. Here's where V Sports comes in. Since taking over in 2018, Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens (NSWE) have overseen a rapid transformation of a club which was languishing in the Championship, to one which is now competing in the Champions League.
Emery intends on "breaking barriers" and NSWE believe that he will continue to do that. Villa have spent money in recent years, but due to the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules and UEFA's squad cost ratio rules, they have to balance their books, meaning they face the prospect of replacing key players rather than building around them.
Emery has previously spoken about competing for the league title after Leicester City proved that you don't have to be a 'big six' side to do it. Emi Martinez, who is contracted with the club until 2029, has himself said that aiming for fourth place is for "losers" and he is focused on winning the biggest trophies.
V Sports have done all they can to back Emery and fund the club's ascent until now, but financial rules are holding them back. It's why Villa called on the Premier League to postpone its meeting to amend financial rules on Friday.
The letter called for an end to the “acrimonious back and forth exchanges” over APT, arguing they “weaken” the league’s leadership, club executives and the Premier League as an organisation. In order for the rule changes to pass a majority of 14 clubs must agree, or two-thirds of votes cast where there are abstentions. City, whose legal challenge to the rules led to the arbitration panel being convened, warned amendments should not be rushed through.
