Guardiola discusses departure decision and future plans after City | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola discussed his decision to leave the club in his final press conference as Manchester City manager, and revealed his plans for his future.

Before City’s final game of the season against Aston Villa, departing manager Guardiola spoke to the press about his legacy at the club and his future after a decade at the Etihad.

Sitting down with a heavy sigh, the manager tried to direct questions towards his final fixture, rather than his departure but discussed his decision to close the door on “the experience of my life.”

“I feel really satisfied, happy and proud”, Guardiola began. “It’s been the experience of my life. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been here for 10 years.

“I cannot be more grateful for the amount of love and affection I had, not just today, for many many years and nothing else.”

He continued: “I think the club needs a new manager, new energy with these incredible players that we have and it’s time to write a new chapter.”

He acknowledged that the decision on the timing of his departure had been a long time coming, and he had been supported by the club throughout the process.

“It’s the time, it’s not go to sleep and wake up one day, the day after and say now is the time to leave. It’s a process that I have felt for a while and always the club respects me an unbelievable [amount] for the decision.

“The club, of course, has to be ready [for my replacement] and I felt [it was time].”

As for what his future holds as he steps away from the City dugout, Guardiola was adamant that he had no immediate plans, and his main focus was rest.

“Now rest, no plans to train for a while, otherwise I would still be here. I need to step back. I will not train for a while,” he declared.

“I will take a while [away from working], but I need to prove it to myself,” he added.

“I need to breathe a little bit and relax, I’ll be away for a while, that is my feeling,” he concluded.

The club have confirmed that he will remain involved as a global ambassador for the City Football Group, which Guardiola was enthusiastic about.

“We sat together and I said I would love to continue to be part of this club. Not manager action, I will take absolutely zero decisions in that,” he clarified. “Just to be part of the club, if they need me to represent or do something in the many many clubs that this organisation has.

“I will be there. I like to still be part of this club, in a different role, completely different, not in the daily decisions, not being in front of the spotlights, always behind the scenes. I’d like to be part of that.”