All of a sudden questions surround the future of Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City in November 2024. The contract Guardiola signed is set to expire at the end of the 2026/27 season. It has seemed this season that Guardiola has been reinvigorated by the challenge of leading City back to the top of the Premier League and Europe after a difficult 24/25 season. Managing this new-look City squad looks to be a challenge that Pep Guardiola is more than up for.

But now a new report from David Ornstein for The Athletic has emerged that states that Manchester City have an eye on Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca as a potential replacement for Guardiola. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that Guardiola could leave his post as Manchester City manager at the end of this season. It would seem that there are now doubts surrounding the future of Guardiola as Manchester City manager.

David Ornstein has reported that Manchester City are making contingency plans in case Pep Guardiola calls time on his spell as City manager.

David Ornstein has reported for The Athletic that Manchester City have Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca high on their list of potential replacements for Pep Guardiola as manager. Furthermore, Ornstein reports that sources outside of Manchester City believe that the 25/26 season could be Pep Guardiola’s final season as City manager. It is also reported by Ornstein that a decision on whether or not Guardiola will stay on as Manchester City manager beyond this season will likely arrive towards the end of the 25/26 season. Lastly, Ornstein reports that Manchester City are making contingency plans in case Pep Guardiola does call time on his trophy-laden spell as manager of the club.

First thoughts on David Ornstein’s new report.

Everything that is good in football has to come to an end. Eventually, at some point, Pep Guardiola will depart his post as Manchester City manager. It will be a sad day when that occurs. There is no doubt about that. The possibility does seem very real that Guardiola could leave City at the end of this season given that a reporter of David Ornstein’s stature has reported on it. But looking at Pep Guardiola this season he seems to be reinvigorated to lead his team back to the top.

There does seem to be a pep in Pep Guardiola’s step this season. With new players and new staff on board, Guardiola does seem to be recharged as a manager. He is building a new team at City and the possibility of leading a new era of dominance could keep Guardiola at City. That is just my take on how Guardiola appears this season. He is also contracted for next season so my assumption is that Guardiola will be Manchester City manager at the beginning of next season.

David Ornstein’s report does raise the possibility that Pep Guardiola could depart Manchester City at the end of this season. It will now be interesting to see if Guardiola addresses the report during his pre-game press conference on Friday. If he does it will be fascinating to see Pep Guardiola’s response to the possibility that he could call time on his spell as City manager. Perhaps the end is nearer to Pep Guardiola’s spell as City manager than we think. That remains to be seen and it does now look to be a story to monitor across this season.