Pep Guardiola under renewed scrutiny regarding City future plans

Pep Guardiola’s career at Manchester City has raised fresh doubts as his side faces charges in his last year in charge, raising questions regarding his future.

Into the final year of his contract at Manchester City, Guardiola is put in the spotlight regarding his forthcoming moves.

An Italian journalist took the chance and asked if Guardiola would work in Italy one day, after Wednesday’s Champions League game against Inter Milan.

To which the City manager said “I love English football, it is fantastic, really enjoyable. They leave you alone to get on with the job. That doesn’t happen anywhere else,” the City manager said

Guardiola has already stayed at City for longer than expected compared to his previous managerial tenures, which is 8 years.

The end of the campaign will mark nine years about four at Barcelona and three at Bayern Munich.

“It’s a great club. I really feel good being here,” he said.

Moreover, the Spaniard would be aware that finding another elite European side backed by the royalty of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family would be hard. On a good note, it helped him create a team and an image as one of the best. The ties between them were like a match made as they enjoyed unprecedented dominance in the Premier League.

The club – CEO Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, have worked with him at Barcelona and Manchester City making their close relationship obvious.

This has made walking on thorns comfortable after a difficult season, as Guardiola could convince them to sign a contract extension.

Now the ball is on his court, where he must decide if the fire for more success is still burning or has gone off.

The long case battle with over 100 charges of alleged financial breaches could also be a key factor in the manager’s decision regarding his stay.

The recent incident in which Jurgen Klopp decided to end his Liverpool career was evidence of how much damage managerial roles can cause. The German went stride to stride with Guardiola in the battle for supremacy—and even did the impossible by holding City’s dominance by winning the title in 2020.

The intensity worked as a ladded taking them to greater heights and in January Klopp made the sudden announcement that he needed a break to refuel.

The German said at the time.“It is not what I want to (do), it is just what I think is 100% right,”

A similar story featured in Guardiola’s career as well, as he took a 12-month break after his first job at Barcelona. However, he’s been on continuous employment since the Bayern spell in 2013 – winning league titles in nine of those 11 seasons.

Those were the heights he was soaring the dominance should considered an easy ride as Pep’s City forged through Klopp’s Liverpool and Arteta’s Arsenal reaching limits unimaginable to claim the summit.

The New runner

Arteta’s Arsenal has the new rookie in England’s top flight by transforming the North London side since leaving Guardiola’s assistant role to take over at The Emirates.

City vs. Arsenal has now become the biggest rivalry at the top of English football.

Nearly two seasons ago Arsenal spent 248 days at the top of the table, but eventually slipped giving way for City to lift another title. Arsenal remain the only team to have spent so long in first place without being crowned champions. That season was a heroic failure for the Gunners.

Last season, Arsenal went their closest until the last day of the campaign, but the story could not see a different ending.

Additionally, Arsenal’s faith in him is strong as Areteta signed a three-year contract extension motivated to end Guardiola’s reign.

Over the last two years, Arteta, just like Klopp before him – is discovering innovative ways to reach extraordinary levels to topple City.

The 2022-23 table is evidence of Arsenal’s persistence to gain more ground in the Premier League race, winning 28 games, their most in history, which did not bear fruit.

The following season the club’s second-highest in the Premier League era (89 points) was still not enough as they fell short by one point. Moreover, they recreated its ‘Invincibles’ team points tally, but this time without the title.

This season, Arsenal’s only goal would be to dethrone the six-time Premier League winning managers of his thrown, and coming Sunday is one such event to prove their ambitions.

So there is little evidence that the 53-year-old will have a new challenger. Having won a treble of trophies, including the first Champions League for City and an English record fourth successive top division title, the blue side of Manchester could be nearing the end of an era

But, If this is to be Guardiola’s final season, he is already leading to achieve something more. So will City still dominate after Pep? Only time has the answer.

Also Read:
Kevin De Bruyne set to miss Arsenal clash after picking up an Injury in UCL
Arteta confirms Odegaard faces extended absence due to ligament Injury