Pep Guardiola has reportedly been left furious after news of his expected Manchester City departure was leaked before the end of the season.
The Spaniard is said to have told his players that he will leave the club after Sunday’s final Premier League match against Aston Villa, bringing an extraordinary era at the Etihad Stadium closer to its end.
According to The Sun, Guardiola was particularly angry about the timing of the leak, which emerged before City’s crucial away match against Bournemouth. The manager had previously insisted he intended to see out the final 12 months of his contract, leaving many inside the squad surprised by the sudden change.
Guardiola forced into late-night squad call
The report claims Guardiola held an unexpected late-night group call with his players to confirm the news directly.
A source told The Sun that the City boss apologised to the squad for the way the situation became public.
“Pep is furious at the timing just before a game. He summoned the players to join a late night group call and confirmed he was leaving. He apologised for the way the news emerged. It took him by surprise,” the source said.
The same source added that the players had recently been told Guardiola was staying, which made the news even more shocking.
“The players were told as recently as Saturday that he wasn’t going so everyone is in a state of shock.”
End of a dominant Manchester City era
Guardiola has transformed Manchester City since arriving from Bayern Munich in 2016.
During his time at the club, City have become the dominant force in English football and one of the strongest teams in Europe. His reign has delivered 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the club’s first Champions League crown in 2023.
City have also added more silverware this season, beating Chelsea 1-0 in the FA Cup final to complete another domestic cup success.
If Guardiola leaves after the Aston Villa match, it would mark the end of one of the most successful managerial spells in Premier League history.
Maresca linked with City job
Attention is already turning to who could replace Guardiola.
Reports from The Athletic have suggested that Enzo Maresca is a possible candidate. The Italian previously worked as Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City and is familiar with the club’s football structure.
Maresca left Chelsea in January and could now be considered as City prepare for a major transition.
For now, Guardiola’s immediate focus will be on finishing the season. But after the leak and the reported late-night call to players, Manchester City appear to be heading into the final days of a defining era.
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