Man City Faces Uncertainty as Pep Guardiola’s Future Hangs in the Balance
Manchester City enters the new season under a cloud of uncertainty regarding Pep Guardiola’s future, with this year potentially being his last at the Etihad.
Reflecting on his youth in the 1990s, Guardiola would wake up early to watch Michael Jordan play, knowing he might never see such charisma, competitiveness, and skill again. “I had the feeling that I would never see again this kind of charisma, this competitor, this level of skill all in one person to win many championships,” Guardiola explained earlier this year. He likened such rare athletes to the likes of Tiger Woods, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic, who possess a unique combination of talent and determination.
During lockdown, Guardiola undoubtedly watched “The Last Dance” documentary, chronicling Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls’ rise in the 1990s, culminating in their final championship season in 1997/98. Despite idolizing Jordan, Guardiola has always seen himself more as a facilitator like Bulls’ coach Phil Jackson, relying on a superstar to shape his career.
“Messi means everything in my career. He made me more competitive than my parents did,” Guardiola said. “We have won a lot, and without him we would have won as well, but as many titles as we did with Messi? Impossible. I simply compare Messi with Michael Jordan. With Messi, I felt like Phil Jackson did when he had Michael Jordan. Jordan won six NBA championships, and I won many trophies with Messi as well. I always say that Messi has made all of us good.”
In Manchester, Guardiola has solidified his status as one of the greatest coaches ever, breaking numerous records with City. His first season’s criticism and doubts now seem absurd as he has redefined English football. But is this the end? With only one year left on his contract and no extension in sight, many believe he will depart in the summer of 2025 after a historic nine-year tenure.
Hints of Guardiola’s departure have surfaced since December 2023, after City won the Club World Cup, a significant achievement for him and his squad. Following the victory, he began speaking like someone nearing the end of his journey with City. “I would like to say we had the feeling we would close the chapter, we won all the titles, there’s nothing else to win, I had a feeling the job was done, it was over,” he remarked.
Although Guardiola mentioned wanting to “buy another book and start to write it again,” starting over seemed daunting after nearly eight years of building to that moment. However, City’s triumph in Jeddah invigorated them, leading to a fourth successive Premier League title. Yet, when asked about his future, Guardiola admitted: “The reality is I’m closer to leaving than staying.”
The Premier League’s investigation into City’s conduct could significantly influence Guardiola’s decision. If City is cleared, he might feel it’s the right time to leave. Conversely, if he perceives an injustice, he may stay. When asked about his future if City is found guilty, he said: “I will answer when I have the sentence. You are questioning like we have been punished. And in the moment we are innocent until guilt is proved. I know the people want it. I know, I feel it. I will wait. Wait and see it and after the sentence has been done we will come here and explain it.
“But absolutely I will not consider my future [if] it depends on being here [Premier League] or being in League One. Absolutely. There is more chance to stay if we are in League One than if we were in the Champions League.”
Guardiola’s character suggests he might stay true to his word if City faces severe punishment. Meanwhile, City fans will savor the football and success under his leadership, with the Blues favored for a fifth consecutive title.
If this season is indeed Guardiola’s “Last Dance,” the ultimate focus of any future documentary will likely be the Champions League. Despite City’s Premier League dominance and Guardiola’s transformation of English football, winning just one European crown seems underwhelming. Securing a second Champions League title would be the perfect end to his illustrious tenure.
