Pep Guardiola has managed his final game for Manchester City, concluding a decade of unprecedented success, and has pledged to contact his successor. His tenure ended with a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
Over his illustrious 10-year spell, Guardiola secured an astonishing 20 trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first-ever Champions League. His final season saw him deliver a domestic cup double, alongside a second-place finish in the league.
Attention now turns to his replacement, with former assistant Enzo Maresca, who was dismissed by Chelsea in January, emerging as the frontrunner. “When the club tell me who it is, of course I will call him,” said Guardiola. “I will tell him, ‘Be yourself and the club will support you unconditionally’.”
News of Guardiola’s departure leaked out early last week but was only confirmed by the club on Friday. Guardiola, who now intends to take a long break from the game, had been planning his exit for some time. The 55-year-old said: “Yesterday I was at home and I didn’t have any furniture. I just had a bed to sleep on. I’ve processed it already.”
On the field, City took a 23rd-minute lead through Antoine Semenyo but Villa won with two second-half strikes from Ollie Watkins. The result was secondary to the occasion as long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones also made their farewell appearances. Stones, who arrived at City in the same summer as Guardiola, said: “Pep’s the reason we won so much. He was at the wheel, making the decisions and creating this monster of a team.”
