Former Manchester City midfielder Didi Hamman says he would be “surprised” if Pep Guardiola is still the club’s manager next season.
A major rebuild of the first-team squad is required over the summer and, speaking to Best Betting Sites, Hamann claimed that Guardiola no longer has the patience or drive to carry out such a sizeable task, having already spent the last nine years in Manchester:
“The challenge for City is that next season, they kind of have to create a new team and I think in modern history, for example, when Ferguson won the Champions League in 1999 and then winning it again with a different team in 2008, he was the last manager to do that. That kind of rebuild requires a lot of patience and a lot of energy. When I look at Pep this season, I’m not sure whether he’s got either at the moment.”
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“It’s a very testing job, being a Premier League manager. You have to transfer that fire from the manager to the players and make them believe they can win everything again. I’m not sure he can do that. I said that a few months ago.”
“I’m not sure how far that time is where he say to himself, maybe somebody else is better equipped for the job. I’d be surprised if he’s still the manager next season, regardless of where they finish.”
Guardiola has made the right noises about staying
Although Hamann doesn’t think the Catalan will remain at the Etihad, the man himself seems to be suggesting he is up for the challenge.
After expressing frustration with his defence after they conceded two goals against Brighton at the weekend, Guardiola vowed “it will be different next year”, indicating he is still the man to correct this season’s mistakes.
His exit would, of course, drastically alter the dynamic in the Premier League, and it would raise question marks over whether City can continue to compete with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal in the short term.
There will be a massive shakeup at Man City this summer
Reports suggest that up to eight first-team players could be let go at the end of the campaign. Kyle Walker looks poised to join AC Milan on a permanent basis, with the Rossoneri likely to trigger their €5m purchase option.
Kevin De Bruyne could leave on a free transfer, with the MLS his most likely destination, while Mateo Kovacic has been linked with a switch to Atletico Madrid in recent days. Jack Grealish, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones and Ederson may also depart.
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