Pep Guardiola has spoken for the first time since it emerged that he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season. Guardiola will call time on a glittering decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium following Sunday’s final day of the season game against Aston Villa.
The Catalan still has a year remaining on his contract, but there is now a growing expectation that he will be replaced by Enzo Maresca this summer. City have not commented publicly on the claims that Guardiola will leave at the end of the campaign, and in his pre-match broadcast interview ahead of tonight’s game against Bournemouth, Sky Sports told him that it would be ‘unfair’ to ask him about his future before the game.
Instead, they asked him if the stories had disrupted his side’s preparations, to which Guardiola replied: “Zero. Absolutely zero.”
Guardiola has overseen one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history. Since his appointment in 2016, City have won 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.
The Etihad club have also won the FA Cup three times and lifted the Carabao Cup on five occasions, including both competitions this term. However, it was claimed on Tuesday morning that Guardiola had been left furious after news of his departure had been leaked ahead of tonight’s game against the Cherries and that City had even gone as far as saying they would not allow questions on Guardiola’s future at Bournemouth tonight.
Guardiola, it is claimed, also held a summit with his players on late Monday night to inform them of the news that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
Although considered the outsiders, City still have the chance of winning the title, although they must win tonight to take the race to the final day of the season.
After being asked about Andoni Iraola’s imminent departure from Bournemouth, Guardiola was questioned on whether he had thought about his own farewell.
He sighed heavily and said: “Next (question). So many times – I have one more year!”