Manchester City chair Khaldoon al-Mubarak has revealed that Pep Guardiola threatened to quit “100 times” during his tenure as manager, comparing the empty threats to the fable of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Guardiola left City last month after 10 years, during which he won 17 major honours.
Mubarak described himself as Guardiola’s “psychiatrist”, saying he helped persuade the manager to stay on multiple occasions. “When he says ‘I quit’, it doesn’t mean he’s quitting,” Mubarak said. “You don’t take it that seriously, you have to manage him.” Guardiola initially signed a three-year deal and agreed four extensions, but was hesitant each time.
Mubarak added that he always knew when Guardiola genuinely wanted to leave. “There’s always going to be one moment where it was going to be real,” he said. “I did not fight this at all because I knew this was the time he meant it.”
With Enzo Maresca lined up as Guardiola’s replacement, Mubarak expressed confidence in City’s continued success. “This is a club that is designed, built to win,” he said. “What Pep has given us has taken us to the next level.”
Mubarak also commented on striker Erling Haaland, calling him a “superstar” and “goalscoring machine”. This follows a recent incident where a Real Madrid presidential candidate held up a shirt with Haaland’s name, prompting City to threaten legal action.
