Guardiola hints at staying as City line up Maresca as contingency

Key facts

• Pep Guardiola has been Manchester City manager for 10 years.
• Guardiola spoke ahead of Monday's Premier League match against Everton.
• Aymeric Laporte said he regretted leaving City, calling it 'the best club in the world'.
• Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to replace Guardiola if he leaves this summer.
• Positive talks have been held between City and Maresca.
• Guardiola said he is 'more calm' this season than last and mentioned 'learnings for next season'.
• City have won the Carabao Cup and reached the FA Cup final this season.

Guardiola’s most personal tribute to City

Pep Guardiola has delivered one of the most revealing tributes to Manchester City as a club that he has ever given publicly, with his words reading very much like those of a man who is not going anywhere. The comments came in Guardiola’s press conference on Friday ahead of Monday’s Premier League trip to Everton, prompted in part by recent remarks from former City defender Aymeric Laporte. In a recent interview with Spanish newspaper Diario AS, Laporte said he “regretted leaving because I was at the best club in the world” and that “the way they take care of their players there is unique, you only realise it when you leave.”

Why Guardiola stayed a decade

Guardiola used Laporte’s words as a springboard to speak at length about what makes Manchester City the club it is – and his answer touched on everything from the Player Care department to the club’s classy conduct with employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Today Aymeric Laporte, that was another player that helped us incredibly a lot to understand what you have to do from behind, build-ups, committing, and this kind of stuff, in a newspaper in Spain said, ‘City is the best club in the world, you never realise how good they are, how incredibly organised until you leave’,” he said. “That is the biggest compliment we can get; the players can leave and say that place was incredible. And I have the same feeling. I wouldn’t have been 10 years even with good titles or prizes if I don’t have an incredible environment.”

Guardiola’s energy and future hints

suggesting Guardiola is likely to leave City this summer and a decision expected before the end of May, the 55-year-old’s words pointed firmly in the other direction. “Now I still have incredible energy, still I’m so good to be here, coming here to work today on my day off,” Guardiola said. He added: “Of course we are here because we won a lot and that’s why they don’t fire you because they continue to trust you because you have success. Despite that, or part of that, the club is really, really extraordinary. And I loved when Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan) came back from Barcelona and said, ‘Man City is top’.”

Maresca lined up as contingency

Manchester City reportedly have a replacement lined up for a manager who may not be going anywhere. for The Guardian that former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to take over from Pep Guardiola if Guardiola leaves the club at the end of this season. Furthermore, there have been positive talks held between by Steinberg that Pep Guardiola is yet to decide if he will remain as City manager after this season. Manchester City have put a contingency plan in place in case Guardiola does leave the club. That contingency is Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola.

A clue in Guardiola’s calmness

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Everton, Guardiola was asked about how he was feeling during this season’s run-in. His answer may have revealed a clue about his future. He explained: “The process between games, I’m more calm than last season. Last season was 24 hours thinking about what happens if we won’t qualify for the Champions League. I felt that a lot.” “But this season, we won the Carabao Cup, Final of the FA Cup again, still fighting against this Arsenal. So what can I say? It’s really good. I’d love to go through in the Champions League, but the level is higher and it’ll be good learnings for me for the next season.”

What Guardiola’s words mean for his future

It isn’t a surprise to learn that Manchester City have put plans in place in case Pep Guardiola does depart the club imminently. An organisation such as City will not want to be caught off guard if their manager walks away. The fact that City have sounded out Enzo Maresca shows that they have plans in place. However, it isn’t an indication that Pep Guardiola is set to walk away imminently. Guardiola seems fully invested in the journey he is on with his new-look team. His team has taken giant strides this season, especially recently. Guardiola seems reinvigorated and up for leading this team to glory. Also, he made a point of saying what lessons he can from Manchester City’s disappointing Champions League campaign that he can carry into next season. That doesn’t sound like a manager who seems ready to walk off into the sunset.

The bottom line

• Guardiola’s public praise for City’s environment suggests he may stay beyond this season.
• City have identified Enzo Maresca as the leading candidate to replace Guardiola if he leaves.
• Guardiola mentioned planning for next season’s Champions League, hinting at a longer stay.
• The club’s contingency plan is proactive but does not confirm Guardiola’s departure.
• Guardiola cited the club’s player care, food, CEO matchday presence, and COVID conduct as reasons for his decade-long tenure.