Regardless of the outcome of this season, I believe that this will be the end of Pep Guardiola’s reign in Manchester, and it came all too soon.
Manager Pep Guardiola’s future at the club has been the subject of serious doubt since UEFA’s verdict banning Manchester City from the Champions League for two seasons was handed down on Friday.
A lengthy legal process is sure to follow in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, leaving City’s status in flux unless a ruling is expedited in the coming months. The club have not backed down from a hardline stance of no wrongdoing, and whether or not that is true, I believe that Guardiola’s time at the Etihad has come to an end, regardless of the result of this season.
In the days since the announcement, conflicting reports have arisen, with some stating that the Catalan boss will seriously consider his position and future at the club, while others believe that he will hold firm and not leave the team at such a critical juncture.
If his current squad can rally and win the Champions League this year (a metaphorical middle finger toward UEFA), he will have achieved his ultimate goal, won everything in England, and be ready for his next project. If City lose and the ban is upheld before the end of the season, he is simply spinning his wheels.
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Should Guardiola depart, Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers remain favorites to take over, while Max Allegri reportedly already has a deal in place to manage “a great English club” after finally arriving on the shores of the Premier League.
Whatever comes next, his tenure has undoubtedly been the best of any coach in club history, and he will forever remain a legendary figure. The future is murky, but as we reflect on the past, we can be thankful for the memories we’ve shared.