According to reports, Pep Guardiola will recommit his future, at least in the short term, to Manchester City after his contract expires this season.
With Manchester City’s season coming to a disappointing end after another Champions League quarterfinal failure under Pep Guardiola, a new angle is set to appear in the story: the Catalan’s contract.
With just one season left on the deal, decisions must be made by both Guardiola and the club in terms of the futures of both parties. City and the board appear committed to continuing with Guardiola, who prefers to give himself options with short-term contracts and not extending early. However, the current indications suggest that he will want to continue with the club past this season, although he is not willing to commit to another long-term deal in Manchester.
The partnership has been extremely successful, with City winning three Carabao Cups, two Premier League titles, and an FA Cup during his time in charge while setting the Premier League points record in 2017-18. Things have not gone to plan in Europe, however, where the team has faltered at the quarterfinal stage in three successive seasons.
Guardiola’s track record in the Champions League has come under major scrutiny, and changes will need to be made if City are to once again contend to regain their Premier League crown. For both the club and manager, however, upon assessment of the other options, it makes sense for both parties to continue.
Guardiola has a limited number of top clubs at his level, and with former club Barcelona in disarray and recently hiring Ronald Koeman, the most logical option appears to be gone. Other rumors such as Juventus also do not seem feasible, as they have just brought in club legend Andrea Pirlo after likely sounding out Guardiola’s interest in the job. From there, clubs such as PSG and Bayern appear set for the near future, and I doubt Guardiola would manage another English side.
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He could delve into international management, but given his political stance on Catalonia, his relationship with Spain is strained. Furthermore, his style requires consistent training ground perfection, which does not seem to suit the rapid-fire team-building of international football.
From a City perspective, he remains the top candidate available. While Mauricio Pochettino remains unemployed and I believe would be a great option should Guardiola choose to leave, he does not have the pedigree of the Catalan. Past that, City are looking at drastic shifts and potential dangers such as Max Allegri or Vincent Kompany. In total, a one or two year extension makes sense for all parties involved, and therefore, it would be welcome news for the players, staff, and supporters.