“Gary Neville Slams Pep Guardiola Stay as ‘Selfish’ Wish Revealed Amid Man City Struggles”

Gary Neville Admits He Wished Pep Guardiola Left Man City Sooner but Praises His Impact

Manchester United legend Gary Neville has weighed in on Pep Guardiola’s recent contract extension at Manchester City, expressing a mix of admiration and frustration over the manager’s prolonged stay at the Etihad.

City are enduring an uncharacteristic slump, going six games without a win – a rarity during Guardiola’s reign. Their recent Champions League collapse, where they squandered a 3-0 lead to draw with Feyenoord, has only added to the scrutiny. Despite the challenges, Guardiola recently signed a two-year extension, a decision Neville admitted he selfishly wished hadn’t happened.

“Something has changed,” Neville said on the It’s Called Soccer podcast. “I think we all felt this might be his last year, maybe one more maximum, but certainly not two more years. I say this selfishly as a United fan – I hoped he’d leave well before now.”

Since taking charge in 2016, Guardiola has transformed City into a dominant force, winning six Premier League titles and last season’s historic treble. For Neville, Guardiola’s influence has been bittersweet.

“I say that selfishly about the United and City rivalry,” he admitted, “but you have to appreciate what Pep has done for the Premier League and football in general. His presence is a massive attraction for the league and the city of Manchester.”

Neville acknowledged the importance of retaining a figure like Guardiola in English football, especially given the recent departures of other high-profile managers. “We’ve lost some big characters in the past few years – Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, and soon Jurgen Klopp. Losing Pep would be a massive blow. So, while I want United to win, having him here is a positive for the league.”

Despite City’s current struggles, Neville doesn’t believe the downturn will last. Guardiola’s resolve will be tested further in a demanding run of fixtures, including a showdown with Premier League leaders Liverpool on Sunday, a clash with United, and a Champions League battle with Juventus – all before the holiday break.

Neville remains convinced that Guardiola will overcome this rough patch, emphasizing the unique challenges of sustaining success in a league as competitive as England’s. “He’s set such high standards at City that even a small dip feels seismic,” Neville concluded.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *