Pep Guardiola reportedly summoned his squad to an emergency late-night group meeting just 24 hours before their clash with Bournemouth.
The 55-year-old manager confirmed he will stand down following Sunday’s season finale against Aston Villa, reversing assurances given to players just days prior.
Guardiola is said to be “furious” that details of his exit have leaked prematurely, particularly on the eve of such a big game in Manchester City’s season.
Manchester City players have reportedly been left “in a state of shock” following news of Pep Guardiola’s imminent departure from the Etihad Stadium.
The timing of news concerning Guardiola’s summer exit from the club could not be worse for Manchester City’s players, who retain slim hopes of winning the Premier League title this season and simply must win at Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Fresh from lifting his 20th trophy as Manchester City manager at Wembley via a hard-fought FA Cup final win over Chelsea, and courtesy of an Antoine Semenyo strike, Guardiola’s focus was supposed to be strictly locked onto the Premier League crown.
However, after Arsenal’s narrow but vital 1-0 win over Burnley on Monday night, the Gunners have opened up a five-point lead at the summit, meaning any slip-up from City at the Vitality Stadium would hand Mikel Arteta his first Premier League title.
Behind the closed doors of the City Football Academy, the atmosphere has now reportedly shifted from the post-Wembley euphoria to apparent bewilderment, having previously been insulated from heavy media speculation surrounding Guardiola’s plans.
Now, on the day they travel to the south coast for a make-or-break encounter, the players find themselves managing the emotional fallout of a historic managerial era coming to an abrupt end.
Guardiola holds emergency meeting to confirm Man City exit
According to The Sun, Pep Guardiola told his Manchester City players on Monday night that he would be leaving his role as head coach at the Etihad Stadium following Sunday’s Premier League finale against Aston Villa.
However, the 55-year-old is claimed to be “furious” at the timing of information concerning his future, and the Catalan is said to have contacted his players just 24 hours prior to their clash away at Bournemouth confirming he would be leaving.
The report quotes a source who states, “Pep [Guardiola] is furious at the timing just before a game. He summoned the players to join a late night group call and confirmed he was leaving. He apologised for the way the news emerged. It took him by surprise.”
The source continued, “The players were told as recently as Saturday that he wasn’t going so everyone is in a state of shock.”
Can Manchester City block out the noise?
How the Manchester City squad responds on the pitch against Andoni Iraola’s high-flying Bournemouth side on Tuesday night will define their Premier League season.
The Cherries are currently enjoying a spectacular unbeaten run stretching back to January and are actively hunting a historic European qualification spot – elements that Pep Guardiola was keen to warn his players on during his pre-match press conference.
Should City fail to secure all three points on the south coast, the Premier League trophy will be handed over to North London, rendering Sunday’s finale against Aston Villa a hollow exercise but a clear opportunity to celebrate their most successful ever manager.