Every word of Guardiola's final pre-match press conference | OneFootball

Men's Team

It has been the experience of my life - Pep

Hello Pep, first of all congratulations on a brilliant career here at Manchester City. How does it feel to be sat there about to say goodbye to this Club?

Yeah, really satisfied, I don’t know the right words. Satisfied, happy, proud. It’s been the experience of my life I would say, otherwise I would not be here 10 years. I could not be more grateful for the amount of love and affection that I’ve known not just in these days but for many, many years. Nothing else.

Why now?

It’s the time. I didn’t wake up one day and say now is the time to leave. It’s a process that I felt for a while. The Club respect me unbelievably for the decision, they have to of course be ready and I felt it. This job is every few days for many years, Selhurst Park, Anfield, Madrid, Madrid, FA Cup. Now I have to live my life and see what happens. And 10 years is a lot, lot of time and I think the Club needs a new manager and new energy with these incredible players that we have now, they’ll start to write another chapter.

SHOP THE PEP Decade COLLECTION HERE 

When was the first moment you thought of leaving?

It’s not about when. I could say today or tomorrow, it’s a time that you feel let’s do it. It’s not yesterday or one week ago but we were in the competitions. I want to be completely away from it because I need the players to be with me and me with them. In the moment we cannot fight for anything else, that is the moment to say okay. I want to say a proper goodbye to my people on Sunday and hug them all on the pitch, that’s why we announced it.

What do you want to do next?

Now, rest. No plans to train for a while, otherwise I would be here. I need to step back. I will not train for a while.

Club said you’re going to be a Global Ambassador for the City Football Group. What does that mean and does it mean you’re not going to be a manager again?

We talked together and I said I would love to continue to be part of this Club. Not a manager, I will take zero decisions, but to represent this Club and if they need me to do anything in the many Clubs this organisation has, I will be there. I like to still be part of this club in a different role. Not in daily decisions or spotlight, always behind the scenes but I would like to be part of that.

When Jurgen Klopp left, he said he was running out of energy. Is it a similar feeling?

Absolutely. I feel I will not have the energy that is required for every three days fighting for titles and being in front of the players. I feel I would not have it. The reason is the time, it’s 10 years. It’s not because I don’t have ambition or I don’t want to try again. Okay Pep, after 10 years and it’s really good for everyone. I think it’s good to shake and move with new faces. If I didn’t believe that and if they didn’t sack me, I would stay here. But it’s a perfect moment and perfect time, much better than last season for example. Don’t take it for granted, this season has been exceptional, fighting against Arsenal until the last moment and winning two competitions. Fight every game like the team do, it’s been really good.

Can you explain how much the job takes out of you?

The job doesn’t take anything. I know what it is and what’s required. I was ready to enjoy that and it’s normal. It’s nothing special. The institution has incredible health and is in a good position, and everyone will push to continue to be there.

When did you tell the players?

This morning. The speech was a disaster. I was so nervous, more than ever. I tell them like I’m telling all of you. The question is about having energy and passion that I have had since I was a little boy but now I feel I won’t have that in the future. I have to be honest to myself but also the club and people who rely on me.

Watch video for free with a Cityzens account

Register Sign in

Loading your video

This may take a few seconds. Press play when it’s ready.

What state do you leave the squad and the Club in compared to the one you inherited 10 years ago?

It was good in that moment and now maybe it’s better. Always I said, the legacy, 93:20 the Aguero goal is the biggest moment of this Club and that is legacy. I hear it, explained by players, Vinnie, Zabaleta, many players and we have to continue to grow, grow, grow. That is what the Clubs must be.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher don’t always agree but they do agree you are the greatest manager of all time. How does that sit with you?

I will take a beer with them. Honestly,  I don’t know. I know I had incredible success in my time as a manager and it’s nice to be there. One of the biggest compliments I received was a message from Sir Alex Ferguson two days ago, a message from Kevin [De Bruyne] today, a message from Manu Akanji. That is the reason that makes me feel happy and fortunate. These debates aren’t important. I have been happy doing my job, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here and I did my best, I gave everything until the last drop of what I have. I am leaving with an incredible sense of peace in my soul that I gave everything for the Cub. And people have enjoyed what we have done here in the last 10 years but many people are involved in that.

It’s nine years since the Arena attack in Manchester. You said in your farewell video about the strength the people showed here and you referenced the Tony Walsh poem as well. I just wonder, what do the people and spirit of Manchester mean to you?

When you live 10 years here, you know all the corridors of that city, the good and bad ones. It was important that Cris, the mother of my kids and my little daughter was in the arena at that moment and were lucky and other people were not. Today is the ninth anniversary. Always I express it with my family a lot. When you live in the city and know the city, you try to ask Mike Summerbee and others. I will try and reflect what it means, my time. When you win 20 titles that’s why you’ve been here ten years. Being manager you have to win otherwise you are sacked. It’s not just that. The phone call from Kevin means everything, more than the titles, it’s nice to watch but it’s the memories that you get and they are so special.

The Club have announced that the North Stand is going to be renamed the Pep Guardiola stand. How does that make you feel?

Speechless. No words. What can I say? Khaldoon called me this morning and said the club took that decision. I say, no words. I like to feel that my vibe or my energy will be there forever. In the bad moments, when someone will look there and they see Pep there, I will send my energy to the team and Club. It’s one of the huge honours I could get. I just want to say thank you so much to the Club deliver to me. My father will be here on Sunday, he’s 94 years old and he will come and watch, and it’s an incredible honour to have his name here in this beautiful place. Speechless, I have no words.

Over 10 years you’ve won 20 trophies. What are you most proud of on the field and what will you remember most in years to come?

I don’t know. It’s a question for the people, hopefully they enjoyed watching us play. The moments were fun and we played really good, others not. I would say all trophies are important. All of them. The first Premier League was important, of course I cannot deny the Champions League after many years trying. Going Wembley 24 times, that defines us. There is one sentence that now comes in my mind. I was with Noel Gallagher a few years ago, we were a team not able to win four games in a row and now we win four titles in a row. That is a good sentence and shows since Abu Dhabi took over this Club made an incredible step that’s defined what we have become.

Can you share what Sir Alex Ferguson said to you in that message?

With his Scottish accent, I struggle. I didn’t talk, it was a voicenote but I will call him back. He congratulated me for the trajectory and what we achieved. It means a lot to me. He’s the greatest in this country for many, many reasons. I’m so happy. I miss a lot of Johan Cruyff who wasn’t able to witness what we leave but I am happy that Sir Alex Ferguson could. I am pretty sure he will say we are not noisy neighbours, we are just the neighbours. I’m happy he was there to watch it. I’m so happy.

When you came here 10 years ago, how long did you think you would last?

Not 10 years. Impossible. I came for three years and said we will see what happens. The rest is history. We continued because we were comfortable, both parts the club and myself. It helped a lot that Txiki was here, Ferran was here, we met each other. I was incredibly protected. Of course, the titles makes you continue but this support helps you win the titles and continue. It’s so important.

You’ve won 20 trophies, played amazing football. Is it important that you leave the Club with a young squad and elevated the Club?

It helps. I think it’s important to arrive in a Club where standards are so high. That is the level you have to do, to push each other. The future must be to win in every training session every single day. The future will not be given. They have to do it and they will do it, I know the Club and the people.

You seem clear minded that now is the time. When you started to think that might be the case, was it a tougher decision. Have you thought maybe you could stay?

When I took the decision, it’s the decision that was made today for tomorrow. We have to breathe and it’s a natural situation. When I decided I say to the Club and maybe this will be the last season, the Club say take time and think about it but after that I said it’s time, it’s better for another energy to come here.

You said you will have a rest. Do you think you will enjoy that?

Many people, my closest people, when I said it will be my last they said it will be three months and you will come back. I said maybe but I need to prove it. I don’t think so to be honest, I think I will take a while. But I have to prove it myself. It’s not ten years, except half a year in NYC it’s been 17, 18 years every three days. People demanding Trebles and the Premier League. I need to breathe a little bit and relax. I will be away for a while, that’s my feeling right now.