Are we approaching Pep Guardiola's final year as Manchester City coach?
The short version
- Pep Guardiola is likely to leave Manchester City when his contract expires in the summer of 2025, according to prevailing opinion.
- The club's board of directors is pessimistic about extending Guardiola's contract.
- Guardiola recently took over as coach of City in his 300th match in the English Premier League, and ruled out 300 other matches.
- The future of sporting director Txiki Begiristain at the club is also uncertain.
– Public opinion is that everyone expects him to leave after the end of his current contract. That he takes one more season and then leaves. It's hard to imagine him signing a new contract right now, says Sam Lee in The Athletic.
After last year's Champions League final, there were many reports that Guardiola would leave the club when his contract expires in the summer of 2025.
This is what contributed to the prevailing perception now.
– It seems not much has changed since then. Perhaps the most interesting thing will be to see how they handle it: if they announce it this summer, or if they wait to communicate the decision until later in the season, Lee says.
Pep “Al-Maleh”:
Two weeks ago – immediately after their Champions League exit to Real Madrid – reports came out of Spain that the club's board were pessimistic about extending Guardiola's contract.
I mean this week Michael Cox at The Athletic That Guardiola could consider giving up if he wins the Premier League this season, which led to a huge debate about the Spaniard's future here in England.
At this point, it can't be about the consequences, which have already been secured with last year's 'treble' win, says Lee.
-It's more about feeling and energy. There haven't been many problems this season in the dressing room, and no one is questioning his strength at the club. The sports journalist says he can focus on daily life, without wasting energy on other things.
The futures of Erling Braut Haaland and Guardiola have been closely linked in the past:
But what happens if the club is actually found guilty of any of the 115 charges being investigated? In February last year, when the charges were announced, Guardiola said he had never been more certain that he would remain in the manager's chair here in Manchester.
When Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp announced that this season would be his last, Guardiola talked about staying longer than next summer.
– There is still one year left (on the contract), I want to complete it – and perhaps extend it, he said at the time.
The future of sporting director Txiki Begiristain is also uncertain. The former Barcelona player also worked with Guardiola at Barcelona, and the cooperation between them is described as very close.
– He couldn't ask for more in this job, he really runs the whole club. Plus, he has all his connections around him, says Richard Martin on Goal.com. He knows the Spanish and English press well.
So it remains uncertain whether he will stay longer than 2025, but Guardiola is certain of one thing after leading City to their 300th Premier League game:
– 300 more? no. I do not believe.
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