This week's Q&A looks at how Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola could impact on the squad, as well as the academy and women's teams
Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca
Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca
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Manchester City's season is effectively over. A 1-1 draw at Bournemouth on Tuesday evening means that Arsenal are Premier League champions with one game to go and City must be content (which they will be) with two domestic cups to show for their campaign.
It has been a monumental week though with news - still unconfirmed - that Pep Guardiola will be leaving City after 10 years, and there will also be emotional farewells for Bernardo Silva and John Stones on Sunday at the Etihad in the final game against Aston Villa. With so much going on at the club, we'll be hosting weekly Q&A sessions with our chief City writer Simon Bajkowski.
The day of the week it comes out on may change depending on what City's schedule looks like, but essentially this is your chance to get an answer on anything you want - simply pop your question here at any time of the week and Simon will pick them all up and wrap everything up in one place.
This week we are looking at how Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola could impact on the squad, as well as the academy and women's teams
Does Pep Guardiola have to leave? Because what is happening is doubtful about his lack of admitting to the media of his exit and his insistence on completing his remaining contract, is it Maresca the one who is pressured by the media or that Pep's recent political statements have an impact?
Is Pep leaving? Do Not lie!
What a threat to kick us off from Rishabh but obviously Guardiola's future is the No.1 issue. He has said that it isn't all said and done despite what has been reported, but all I will say in addition to what has been written already is that I'd be absolutely amazed if he isn't leaving. Guardiola has never actually said that he will complete his remaining contract whenever he has been asked, he has just pointed to the existence of an extra year.
It's also got nothing to do with politics or Enzo Maresca. He doesn't have to leave but I'd expect confirmation this week before the final Premier League game of the season so that everyone heading to the Etihad on Sunday can say a proper goodbye.
"I have two questions about Man City: How will the midfield pecking order change, depending on whether Guardiola stays or Maresca takes over? Do we need to sign another striker as a backup for Haaland next season?"
"Do the future transfers like Anderson knew pep was leaving?"
"I want to know the midfield signing strategy, the contract renewal situation of the coaching staff, and whether Rodri's contract renewal is related to the midfield transfer plans."
It's going to be a big summer for the midfield and there will be some moving parts that we're not certain of yet. One thing that is for sure is that even if Elliot Anderson did not know that Guardiola would be leaving he will have been well aware of the possibility; Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi knew not to expect the manager for long when they signed in January, which is partly why City were so satisfied that both agreed to come.
It's hard to see a way back for Nico Gonzalez under Guardiola given he has been left out of the last three matchday squads and there's also a decision to be made on Mateo Kovacic, who is out of contract next summer. The big one is Rodri though, with his deal also expiring in 2027. City have always been confident he will renew, although his comments after the FA Cup final did not smack of a player looking to imminently sort his future out. How these three cards fall will obviously determine how busy City are in the window because there are definitely midfielders other than Anderson that they have looked into signing as well this summer.
(Image: 2026 Allstar)
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Have you watched any of the women’s team this season? if so, how impressed were you with the performances + how do you think Bunny Shaw leaving will impact the team?
Thanks for the question, Louise. I have watched some of the women's team this season but we have definitely not talked about them or written about them anywhere near as much as I'd have liked - something I'd like to change for next year. Anyway, apologies if this analysis is crude but I have liked a lot of what I have seen from an attacking point of view and the team looked to find a rhythm that was both entertaining and effective. I did like Gareth Taylor but from what I hear it has been a much more united group under Andree Jeglertz, who has done a terrific job.
City obviously believe they have the right structure in place now on top of Jeglertz and I can only assume they are confident they can thrive without Bunny Shaw and her goals. It feels a bit mad to me to let her go given she is clear as the outstanding striker in the league - especially to let her go to a title rival - but my salary is much lower than those decision makers at the club because my expertise in these things is as well.
I do think City will find next season much tougher, and not just if Shaw goes. Nobody ever really expected them to win the league this season and they didn't have European football to test the depth of their squad, whereas now every team will be fighting that bit harder to beat the champions. They have to lift themselves again, and time will tell if their slowing down at the end of this season was the tightness of trying to get over the line or the start of teams treating them as the best side. Like I said though, I haven't been on top of it so happy to be completely wrong!
Are there any concerns within the club about Donnarumma and Trafford's situation? Is it plain and simple that Donnarumma is no.1 and if an offer comes from Trafford and he wants to go he can go, or would there be people within the club who think Trafford is the better future option.
Given Maresca tried to sign Trafford at Chelsea would you think there’s at least an open keeper debate in the summer?
Hi Simon, If James Trafford leaves City this summer, do you know which goalkeepers are on the club’s shortlist to replace him as No.2? Also, what kind of profile do you think City would prioritise — an experienced goalkeeper who can compete with Donnarumma and be trusted in the cup competitions?
A nice spectrum of questions on the goalkeeping front, which has become more of a hot topic with Trafford's Wembley performances and even more so with Maresca news. I do think too much is being made of Maresca having coached Trafford - does he bring back Liam Delap, James McAtee, Cole Palmer and the rest of the gang? - even if there is no denying that the coach likes the player (as Guardiola did).
If you're Trafford and his camp, there's reason to be more optimistic but I'm not sure he can trust any assurances unless they were iron-clad given that he was in a similar position last summer and then realised too late that picking City was the wrong option for him. Donnarumma remains No.1 and it would be a remarkable U-turn for that to change.
In terms of the profile of the next No.2 assuming Trafford goes, I would like to think there's a case to be made to look at the most promising academy keeper since a young Trafford in the shape of teenager Oliver Whatmuff. He has been rated highly by the goalkeeping coach and took the plunge to go out on loan at a very young age and was rewarded with an excellent first year in senior football culminating in Wembley heroics winning promotion with Rochdale.
The likelihood though is that even if Whatmuff impresses there will be a need for a more experienced goalkeeper that fits the profile that City have used throughout Guardiola's time. As Maresca's assistant Willy Caballero will know, even if it doesn't feel great for the No.2 not to be playing every week the number of competitions City are in means they want and need two established keepers to cover a season. It's a bit like a Haaland back-up in that it is a role that regularly needs changing, but that is the point of getting somebody good enough to push the No.1.
James Trafford of Manchester City celebrates with the Carabao Cup trophy after the team's victory in the Carabao Cup final match Arsenal and between Manchester City at Wembley Stadium
James Trafford played a starring role as Manchester City beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley
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Given the success at u18 level and a decent season at u21, which players do you think will be certs for joining the pre-season tour in Asia? Mike
I can exclusively reveal that there will be more youngsters involved than there were last summer, when there were none! And while City's tour is a bit later than usual so will allow for more first team players to come after the World Cup, there will be plenty of youngsters needed to bulk out the squad so I could even see double figures travelling. Ryan McAidoo looks to be the one with the most chance of being around the first team squad next season but there have been other standouts in the Under-18s and Teddie Lamb, Harrison Miles and Kaden Braithwaite will all be hoping to go.
There were obviously high hopes for Sverre Nypan last summer and he needs to make a real impression this time after finishing the season with the Under-21s, while Divine Mukasa impressed before what turned out to be a difficult loan at Leicester. The tour also looks like a good opportunity to have a look at goalkeeper Whatmuff. The only note of caution would be that many youngsters will be looking for first team football next year either on loans or permanent deals and the sooner they are at their new clubs the better they can settle, but I'd expect to see plenty on the City tour.