Pep Guardiola has confirmed to his Manchester City players that he will leave the club at the end of the season, in a late-night phone call that reportedly left the squad in shock. The 55-year-old manager is said to be furious that news of his departure broke on the eve of a crucial Premier League match against Bournemouth.
According to a source, Guardiola summoned the players for a group call late on Monday night to confirm his exit. He apologised for the timing of the announcement, which he had not expected to emerge when it did. The players had been told as recently as Saturday that he was not leaving, making the news even more surprising.
Guardiola will depart after this weekend's home game against Aston Villa, bringing an end to a trophy-laden decade at the Etihad. He has guided City to six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups, and a Champions League triumph. Enzo Maresca is reportedly set to replace him as head coach.
City could still win a seventh league title if they win their remaining two matches and Arsenal lose to Crystal Palace on Sunday. The timing of the leak, however, has angered Guardiola, who was reportedly unhappy that it overshadowed preparations for the Bournemouth game.
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville commented on Sky Sports that the news was a 'gamechanger' and that City would be 'extremely disappointed' it had broken when it did. He compared the moment to the departures of other managerial greats like Sir Alex Ferguson and Jurgen Klopp.
