The day is coming that one day Manchester City will have continue on without Pep Guardiola as manager. That day is coming, when it will be no one knows. Throughout this season speculation has been rampant that Guardiola could leave his post as City manager at the end of this season. David Ornstein reported for The Athletic earlier this season that ‘sources outside of Manchester City’ believed that the 2025/26 season could be Guardiola’s last season as City manager. But the more you see from Pep Guardiola and this new-look City side, the harder it is to picture Guardiola leaving his post when his team is so close to becoming what Guardiola wants his team to be.
Pep Guardiola looks reinvigorated by how his Manchester City team is growing.
Every statement and action made by Pep Guardiola recently has been microanalyzed. People are looking for any semblance of a clue that may give an indication of Pep Guardiola’s intentions. However, that is no easy task given that Guardiola wears his heart on his sleeve on the touchline and is a master of playing the game in press conferences. Having said that, I’m about to do the same. For me, what does ooze through is that Pep Guardiola seems reinvigorated and excited by what this Manchester City team could become.
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Speaking after Manchester City’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest at the Etihad at the beginning of March, Pep Guardiola had no doubt that his team will be better next season. He said: “We are not a complete team to compete to be a solid [team] – that is the reality. But we are in the process of many changes. I’m pretty sure next season will be better. Next season will be better. I don’t have doubts about that.”
The growth of this City side is clear to see.
That assessment from Pep Guardiola is on the money. Proof of it came in Manchester City’s 2-0 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final. Manchester City’s second-half dominance of Arsenal at Wembley represented real progress from his team. All of Pep Guardiola’s principles were put into practice by his new-look side. Pep Guardiola’s celebrations after each of Nico O’Reilly’s two goals showed what that meant to the Manchester City manager. There was sense of pride and excitement that emanated from Guardiola in his celebrations.
That speaks to how up for the challenge of rebuilding Manchester City Pep Guardiola is. Is he prepared to walk away from that challenge when his team is so close to getting it? I don’t think so. Having said that, I could be wide of the mark, but it doesn’t seem to me that Pep Guardiola is looking like a manager who is ready to walk away.
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The influence and guidance of Pep Guardiola has been vital to several City players, and it is hard to see Pep walking away now.
Another aspect of this Manchester City squad that has Pep Guardiola’s fingerprints all over it is the progress made by Manchester City’s recent signings and young players. Nico has risen as a player under Pep Guardiola. Nico O’Reilly has come on in leaps and bounds under Guardiola. Rayan Cherki is an enigma that is thriving playing under Pep Guardiola. He is perhaps Pep Guardiola’s biggest puzzle to solve to create one of the world’s best players. Abdukodir Khusanov is fast becoming one of the better centre-backs in football with Pep Guardiola’s guidance. There are other examples of this. Those four stand out more than any other.
In an interview with the official Manchester City magazine, Abdukodir Khusanov spoke on how much Pep Guardiola has helped him since Khusanov signed for City. He explained: “I’m very grateful to Pep. He spent a lot of individual time with me, explaining every detail of the game. We’re working step by step — he doesn’t rush me and understands that I need time.“
It is easy to see what Pep Guardiola has done for players like Abdukodir Khusanov at Manchester City. He has quickly filled Khusanov with the confidence needed to become an elite defender. That challenge, plus leading other new players at City to the proverbial promised land, does seem to be a task that Pep Guardiola will not want to walk away from just yet.
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Final thoughts.
Jason Burt has reported for The Telegraph that Pep Guardiola will make a decision on his future as Manchester City manager at the end of this season. It remains to be seen if that occurs. Pep Guardiola is contracted to be Manchester City manager for next season. That is one thing. The other is that this City side is so close to becoming everything that Pep Guardiola wants his teams to be. It is almost impossible, in my opinion, to see Pep Guardiola walking away from that possibility given everything he has put into Manchester City’s rebuild.
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