Pep says he won’t advise City on new manager... before giving him advice
The outgoing Manchester City manager spoke about his incoming replacement.
The tears will run long into the night for those in blue who made their way to the Etihad Stadium against Aston Villa, knowing that Pep Guardiola would no longer be on the sidelines for Manchester City.
It was announced earlier in the week that Pep’s distinguished career in England’s north-west was to come to an end on the final day of the 2025/26 season, after 10 years and 20 trophies to his name.
Ahead of the game, he sat in front of the press for the penultimate time, and was asked about his successor. While they are yet to be named officially, it is understood that Enzo Maresca will likely take over in the role.
Pep didn’t want to give out any advice, he said. Right before giving out some advice.
“It doesn’t work to copy and paste in this kind of job,” Guardiola said. “You have to be unique, natural and yourself and the new manager will be himself. The moment it starts to be a copy for another one. Everyone is everyone. It has to be like that. And that’s why everything is going to be good.”
“I don’t have a plan... just stupid things I want to do”
Guardiola also spoke about his future plans, and revealed that he doesn’t have any that aren’t either “stupid” or to do with his kids. “I don’t have any absolute plan about my future except to rest and go to recover my time that I missed with my kids when they were growing [up] and many things I’ve not done I want to do,” he said.
“So, I don’t think for one second thinking about anything related to football for the next time, for the next years. I don’t think about it. I need to rest, I need to reflect. Afterwards we will see what happens. I don’t have a plan, just to rest and do a lot of things I want to do that I didn’t do in the past, stupid things that I want to do.”
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