The fate of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City tenure has taken a dramatic turn, with the highly successful manager’s contract set to expire in the summer. The Portuguese coach, who has been at the helm of the club for eight years, has lifted six Premier League titles, four of which were consecutive, a feat never before achieved in English football history.
Despite this, the uncertainty surrounding Guardiola’s future has left fans in a state of panic. Will his departure trigger a decline in the team’s fortunes, similar to the situation at Manchester United? This is a concern that has been voiced by many, given the Red Devils’ revolving door of managers since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure in 2013.
However, Guardiola is adamant that his departure will not have the same devastating effect. “I don’t know what happened [at United] but I am pretty sure that is going to happen [City success],” he confidently stated. “I know how it works. It will be a bad sign for the club if after just one person leaves and everything is dragged down. It [success] is going to happen, for sure.”
The Spanish coach points to the team’s stability and structure, put in place during his time at the club, as a reason for his confidence. “Maybe they [City] will make mistakes, but during the mistakes they will solve it. Then the mistakes will be solved immediately, that is for sure. The guys know exactly what they have to do.”
Guardiola also expressed his faith in the newly appointed sporting director, Txiki Begiristain, who will also be leaving the club at the end of the summer. “With Txiki for 12 years and my case, it is normal that it looks like we cannot leave, but of course we can move on. Life moves on. The earth continues to turn,” he said.
However, the coach is not getting complacent, and is already looking towards the upcoming fixture against Southampton, which is set to take place on Saturday afternoon. The newly-promoted side are still searching for their first win of the season, and will provide a tough test for City. Guardiola, however, is undaunted, and is confident that his team will come out on top. Only time will tell if he is correct, but with his team’s recent track record, it is unlikely that City will suffer a decline in their fortunes anytime soon.
