Bournemouth v Man City LIVE: Pep Guardiola to respond to exit reports with Premier League title race on the line

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The Independent

·19 de mayo de 2026

Bournemouth v Man City LIVE: Pep Guardiola to respond to exit reports with Premier League title race on the line

Mikel Arteta jokes he will be ‘the biggest ever’ Bournemouth fan

Mikel Arteta is ready to become “the biggest ever” Bournemouth fan with his Arsenal team on the brink of Premier League glory.

After yesterday’s win over Burnley, the Gunners could be crowned champions if Manchester City fail to beat the Cherries tonight.

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And when asked if he will be a Bournemouth fan for the upcoming 90 minutes of football, Arteta said: “The biggest ever.

“(Bournemouth manager) Andoni (Iraola), and all the players and all the supporters of Bournemouth, I think we are all fans because we know what it means if they get a result.

“I don’t think (a text to Iraola) is needed. What he’s done in that football club, the transformation, what they are playing for, I don’t think they need anything else.

(Getty)

Pep Guardiola’s decade of dominance changed English football – but it also changed him

A clue came when Pep Guardiola said part of him would leave with Bernardo Silva. It wasn’t strictly accurate: it turns out all of the Manchester City manager is set to go when his captain departs.

Guardiola’s final season at the Etihad Stadium has taken place with his future providing the backdrop: there have been times when, looking drained, it felt like his last but others when, energised by a new-look team, it felt like he might see out a contract that runs until 2027.

Now it looks as if he is indeed set to leave. An era is ending. Guardiola is unlikely to have done the maths on it, but his valedictory match, against Aston Villa on Sunday, will mean he has managed City more times than anyone else, a 593rd game to Les McDowall’s 592. He is approaching 200 more victories in their dugout than anyone else. Calling him City’s greatest manager is utterly uncontroversial. The surprise is not that he is going now, but that he has had such longevity.

Richard Jolly19 May 2026 17:31

How can Arsenal win the title tonight?

Arsenal’s nervy victory over Burnley has put them on the brink of glory and they will win the title away from the pitch with a game to spare if Man City slip up at Bournemouth tonight.

If City win on the south coast, the title race continues to a final-day showdown.

(PA Wire)

Will Castle19 May 2026 17:23

Pep Guardiola verging on shock exit

And we thought tonight would only be about the title race.,,

Pep Guardiola is set to confirm his Manchester City departure at the end of this season in a move that will spark a seismic shift in the Premier League.

The Spaniard’s exit is expected to come after Sunday’s Premier League finale against Aston Villa and will bring an end to one of the most trophy-laden reigns in English football history, following 10 years of dominance in charge at the Etihad Stadium.

For now, Man City maintain Guardiola has a contract for next season and are hopeful he will remain as manager.

However, it is widely understood that an official announcement on his exit is imminent - whether it will come ahead of tonight’s crucial clash at the Vitality is unknown.

Here’s the full story:

Pep Guardiola set for shock Man City exit

The Spanish manager has been in charge for 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, winning a host of honours, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League, but is now set to leave this summer

Will Castle19 May 2026 17:07

Predicted line-ups

Bournemouth XI: Petrovic; Smith, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Adams, Scott; Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson

Man City XI: Donnarumma; O’Reilly, Guehi, Khusanov, Nunes; Rodri, Bernardo; Doku, Foden, Cherki; Haaland

Will Castle19 May 2026 16:55

Manchester City team news

Pep Guardiola has a full squad to choose from with Rodri back from injury having played 65 minutes of the FA Cup final last Saturday.

Rayan Cherki is expected to start ahead of Omar Marmoush with Gianluigi Donnarumma set to return in goal.

But if we’re all being candid, it’s not the team we’re itching to hear about from the Catalan... Guardiola’s pre-match interview will be appointment viewing.