From Spain: Manchester City board ‘preparing for a future’ without Pep Guardiola – ‘Less trust’ in contract renewal

Reports have emerged from Spain surrounding the future of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, and a growing feeling that his Etihad reign may be coming to an end.

The Catalan boss is currently approaching the end of his eighth season in charge of the reigning Premier League champions, having overseen the most successful period in the club’s history, and arguably one of the most transformational in terms of global reach.

Arriving at the Etihad Stadium in the summer of 2016, Pep Guardiola has won five Premier League titles in the last six seasons, and continues to push for a record-breaking fourth successive league crown during the ongoing campaign.

In amongst all of that top-flight success, Guardiola also managed to win Manchester City’s first-ever UEFA Champions League title alongside victories elsewhere in Europe and the world, accompanying additional domestic glory.

However, despite hopes from Manchester City supporters that Pep Guardiola could make it a staggering decade in charge of the Etihad Stadium club, a new report has pointed towards a growing sense of concern from within the City Football Academy offices.

That is according to the information of journalist Jorge Picón, who reports that Guardiola ‘feels less and less sane every day’ and while a final decision has not been made, City’s board does not ‘breathe optimism’. In fact, it is now claimed there is ‘less and less trust’ in a renewal.

As such, it is claimed that Manchester City have been ‘preparing a future’ without Pep Guardiola for ‘some time now’, despite there being ‘no pressure’ around the situation and future of their legendary head coach.

While City are said to ‘have been anticipating for months’ that Guardiola ‘may be living his last days’ at the Etihad Stadium, the club’s hierarchy believe “the future is controlled”, and are ‘confident of being able to maintain the competitive level’ post-Pep.

Picón points towards the personal life of Pep Guardiola in Manchester, which is common knowledge for many City supporters, highlighting that the coach is living alone in a city centre apartment away from family, who largely remain in Barcelona during the course of a season.

Nevertheless, and perhaps unsurprisingly, the report points out that Manchester City will do ‘everything possible’ to convince him of an extension, and his ‘excellent relationship’ with the club, particularly Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and could ‘turn the tide’.

It remains to be seen what Pep Guardiola will ultimately decide, however there is a sense of certainty that all focus will remain on the ongoing challenges in the Premier League and Emirates FA Cup during the final weeks of the season.

The 53-year-old has consistently pointed towards a lack of need for urgency when it comes to discussions over his future, and given his strong and personal relationship with key club officials, that will likely be respected.

Manchester City are almost certainly set to invest heavily during the upcoming summer transfer window, with a view towards making Pep Guardiola’s current final year of contract as successful as possible.