Pep Guardiola is closer to leaving Manchester City than ever. It is now a matter of when, not if. He may, however, be sticking around longer than many think.
Guardiola’s astonishingly sombre monologue about conflicts around the world led many to believe the end is nigh, potentially at the end of this season.
His actions in the match that followed, against Galatasaray in the Champions League, typified a manager who didn’t have much time left to cement his trophy-laden legacy.
Goals were celebrated with extra vigour from the Catalan. As early as the 18th minute, he tried to rouse a sleepy, half-empty Etihad, waving his hands around like a traffic controller in rush hour, while exaggerating every other reaction, making sure supporters behind him – or the cameras – were in view.
Several sources have indicated to The i Paper that while even Guardiola has not decided when he will leave, there are numerous reasons why he could in fact stay on one more year and see his contract out.
The reaction to Guardiola’s comments on Palestine, Ukraine and other conflicts has been mixed, but there is no doubting they have had the desired effect in reaching audiences far and wide.
Guardiola clearly feels passionate about this and will not back down. And it is being able to use this platform to get his message across – he would not have the same opportunity to express his forthright opinions if out of work – that has led some to believe it could play a part in persuading him to stay.
“[Being] involved in football, we don’t talk about that or that or that,” Guardiola said on Friday. “That’s why the world remains silent, that is what the world wants, right? Be silent, don’t say anything. I think it is completely the opposite.”
City are the ultimate succession planners. They announced Guardiola would succeed Manuel Pellegrini in February 2016 well before he actually took the reins. If he were to depart, several sources have cast doubt over claims he would wait until the end of the season to decide, thus leaving City scrambling to get a replacement in.
An announcement could well be imminent, if he were to be heading for the hills in the summer. There is no indication whatsoever that could happen anytime soon this time around.
Guardiola is also loathe to not see out a project. At Barcelona and Bayern Munich, he had done all he can. City are in the middle of another rebuild, one which is in its infancy. Several insiders believe he would want one more year to see that out.
Potential long-term replacements
The market-leaders in succession planning are always doing their thing. Talks with Enzo Maresca last year confirm as much. It’s not too much of a stretch to add in Xabi Alonso and Andoni Iraola, who have admirers at City. But it also misses the point that City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s preference is for Guardiola to stay beyond the 2026-27 season.
Those who know new sporting director Hugo Viana have been impressed. He is helping to build something Guardiola would be reluctant to let go.
Stepping into the shoes of Txiki Begiristain, the godfather of sporting directors, was never going to be easy but in successive transfer windows, Viana has built on the legacy of his highly respected predecessor.
“A great guy to work with – open, honest, very humble,” says one rival who has negotiated with him on a big transfer recently. But what has struck many in the transfer game is City’s new-found recruitment ruthlessness.
City’s transfer plans
Antoine Semenyo was originally seen as a summer in signing, with City investigating the terms of his close-season release clause. But as soon as they got a whiff of a bidding war, they moved with surgical precision.
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It was similar with Marc Guehi. Josko Gvardiol’s serious injury prompted a move that might, on a previous watch, have waited.
The club want Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson to fill the critical central midfield vacancy they have and believe they can beat Manchester United to his signature. And they are also investigating right-back targets, with Brentford’s Michael Kayode and Feyenoord’s Givairo Read among those of interest.
A slick system will not leave anything to chance with the manager either. City are ready for every eventuality. Only one man will decide which coach gets to see the latest rebuild through.
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