Man City manager Pep Guardiola could leave the Etihad Stadium before his contract expires in 2027 and Premier League bosses are discussing the prospect
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola's future is in doubt(Image: Naomi Baker - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
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There are growing expectations that Liverpool's greatest adversary of the last decade, Pep Guardiola, will call it a day on his tenure with Manchester City. The Catalan coach is anticipated to step away at the end of the season, despite signing a contract until 2027 last term.
There is said to be an increasing conviction among rival Premier League managers that this will be Guardiola’s final season, according to the Times. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss' future is claimed to be a hot topic of conversation among Premier League coaches.
One such figure reportedly told his executives that he is sure the 55-year-old will depart come the summer. Guardiola arrived in the Premier League in 2016 and has won six titles, with only Liverpool and Chelsea also seeing success in that time.
Doubts over Guardiola seeing out the full term of his contract were raised when it emerged that Enzo Maresca had told Chelsea chiefs he had spoken to City on three occasions about replacing Guardiola. The former Blues boss previously worked under Guardiola at the Etihad.
The 55-year-old was asked about the prospect of making an early exit following Maresca's departure from Stamford Bridge earlier this month. Guardiola did not appear to take kindly to the suggestion.
He said: “Oh my God. I have a contract. I’ve said it a thousand million times. I know you are bored of me, ten years here. You want [me to leave]? Yeah, I’m pretty sure of that."
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Guardiola has previously revealed he would take a break from management upon leaving City. "After my contract with City, I'm going to stop. I am sure. I don't know if I'm going to retire, but I'm going to take a break," Guardiola told ESPN Brasil in May.
"How I want to be remembered, I don't know. I want people to remember me however they want.
"All coaches want to win so we can have a memorable job, but I believe that the fans of Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City have had fun watching my teams play. I don't think we should ever live thinking about whether we're going to be remembered."
Former Liverpool coach Pep Lijnders took City's press conference on Friday, as Guardiola attended to a personal matter. Ahead of facing Newcastle, Reds boss Arne Slot acknowledged the difficulties present in the Premier League this season.
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Arne Slot greet each other at the Etihad Stadium
Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola and Liverpool boss Arne Slot greet each other at the Etihad Stadium(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
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"So that is the difficulty of speaking a lot in the media, wanting to protect your players, wanting to protect everyone involved in the club, but the reality is that the Premier League has never been stronger like this, there have never been more teams that are competing up there in terms of points," he said.
"I just got the question how close everyone is together, but I think the aim for Liverpool has always been the same, winning the league and that has not changed, not last season, not this season and it will not change next season.
"But the reality is also that it is really difficult for any team in this league to win it – and sorry that it is even more nice we won it last season, how special that has been."