The 2024/25 campaign has been one to forget for Man City and Pep Guardiola.
The legendary coach has enjoyed unmatched success since moving to the Etihad Stadium in 2016, as the Man City boss has won four Premier League titles in a row, hit 100 points, won a domestic treble, won the treble, and has picked up several other accolades along the way.
The current campaign is the first time the 54-year-old has faced huge problems, and it will require a rebuild this summer, with Guardiola keen to bring four or five new faces to challenge Liverpool next season.
However, ESPN pundit Steve Nicol has questions about whether the Spaniard will even be with the Manchester club, stating that his recent comments hint that the Man City coach is looking for a way out.
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images
Steve Nicol suggests Pep Guardiola could be trying to leave Man City
Guardiola made some concerning comments on Tuesday after Man City’s win over Bournemouth, in which the 54-year-old said he would “quit” if his squad is not reduced this summer, as he doesn’t like leaving players at home.
Speaking about this, Nicol did not understand why Guardiola would say this and suggested that the Spaniard is now looking for a way out at Man City.
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“The strangest thing, by the way, why is he saying ‘if they do, I’ll leave’. Why would you say,” Nicol stated on ESPN FC.
When asked if Guardiola’s concerns are understandable, the pundit continued by stating: “Of course you do. It’s the same situation that we complain about Chelsea.
“They had too many so-called first team players, and so to try and mold a unit together with all the other stuff that you need, you know, the togetherness and the trust, all of those things that are not football related on the field, it’s very difficult, and we’ve seen that at Chelsea over the last three years.
“But as I said, to turn around and say ‘if they do that, I’m going to leave’, that smacks of somebody who’s trying to open the door for himself, to me. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Guardiola has to stick around to keep his reputation intact, and Liverpool expect Man City to bounce back to challenge them for the Premier League title.
However, if the Spaniard does decide to call it a day, who could replace the 54-year-old at the Etihad Stadium?
Who could replace Pep Guardiola at Man City
Guardiola signed a contract extension with Man City this season, therefore, it is unlikely that he will go anywhere.
If he doesn’t, it has been reported that Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta is Man City’s dream target to replace the 54-year-old, having already spent time at the Manchester club.
Manager Games Wins Draws Defeats PPG
Pep Guardiola 528 379 67 82 2.28
Mikel Arteta 288 171 50 67 1.95
Pep Guardiola at Man City vs Mikel Arteta at Arsenal
City would find it almost impossible to lure the Gunners boss away from North London as he continues to work on that project, but it could be an option further down the line.
Bayern Munich’s Vincent Kompany may be an option, given his Man City links, but would the Belgian coach want to leave Germany after just one season?
In the Premier League, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola may attract the Manchester club, while Unai Emery may be keen to step up to the elite level of management once again.
It remains to be seen what Guardiola will do this summer, and things will get very interesting at the Etihad if he decides to walk away.