Manchester City manager Josep Guardiola will decide on his future after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal. The 55-year-old has 18 months left on his two-year deal after signing a new deal in 2024. According to the Daily Mail, the 55-year-old will leave after the Wembley showdown with the Gunners and reflect on what is best for himself and City.
In recent months, new questions have been raised about Guardiola’s future in Greater Manchester, with Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca among the top contenders to succeed the Catalan legend. Uncertainty increased as Guardiola’s arch-rivals Real Madrid won 5-1 on aggregate and City were eliminated from the Champions League. Vinicius Junior scored twice in the second leg, but things changed when Bernardo Silva received a straight red card for handball in the first half.
According to reports, City’s sporting director Hugo Viana has approached candidates to replace Guardiola, including Maresca, and it is believed that discussions have taken place. The 55-year-old’s subsequent life has been part of the debate at the Etihad Stadium, but his decision to sign a contract extension in November 2024 amid a string of grim results has put that speculation to rest.
But Guardiola faces another big challenge if he hopes to add another trophy to his illustrious collection, as the eight-time Premier League champions face a nine-point difference with league leaders Arsenal.
However, the Mail’s report comes just hours after City manager declared the club’s future was “bright” following their exit from the Champions League round of 16.
He said: “It’s hard to play 10-on-11 after losing 4-0. But we did everything. We have an exceptional team and an exceptional group of players. The future is bright. It’s a bit of a learning curve, but it should be 11-on-11. But we never know. Maybe we’ll lose 6-0, but that’s the fact.”
It has been two years since manager Jurgen Klopp made the shocking decision to leave Liverpool early. The German head coach cited a lack of energy as the reason for his departure during his eight-and-a-half years at Anfield, during which the Reds transformed from Champions League outsiders to English champions and Club World Cup winners.
It will soon become clear whether Guardiola will leave City. Since last choosing a Liverpool team, Klopp has looked rejuvenated, taking on a new role as Red Bull’s global head of football, while appearing at sporting events across Europe, most recently at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
Guardiola then slammed Real Madrid, naming Klopp as one of his most important rivals after Real Madrid left the club for the Spanish giants. He said: “No, Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool was the biggest challenge. You can hardly understand what it’s like to play against Liverpool.”
“Those games were a great learning experience for the team, because playing against a team like us that wasn’t in the competition 12 or 13 years ago, and the generation we were in, sometimes they won the game, and sometimes Real Madrid beat us and we won. We had a great time too.”
