Pep Guardiola makes Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva plea as Ilkay Gundogan nears Manchester City contract extension | OneFootball

Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has extolled the virtues of Ilkay Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva in highlighting the trio’s impact over his Etihad tenure.

After starting Manchester City’s 0-1 win over Tottenham in midweek on the bench, the trio could return to the starting eleven against Plymouth Argyle in an FA Cup fifth round tie at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

It has proven to be a season like no other for Guardiola since his arrival in Manchester nine years ago, with City out of the UEFA Champions League and set to surrender their Premier League crown to runaway leaders Liverpool.

A major overhaul is set to follow in the summer which could see many of Guardiola’s most trusted confidantes – including Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ederson, many of whom played a focal role in the 2022/23 treble – bid farewell to the club.

Fresh blood is needed to get City back challenging for domestic and European glory after a disappointing season, and the Blues invested just over £180 million to secure the signings of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush in January.

Pep Guardiola confirmed in a press conference on Friday afternoon that Gundogan is close to meeting the conditions as laid out in a conditional clause in his contract that is set to see the 34-year-old German stay at the club into the 2025/26 season.

Much has been made of Kevin De Bruyne’s recent struggles and Bernardo Silva is no stranger to transfer speculation himself, having held a long-standing desire to move to Spain in a bid to return closer to his homeland in Portugal.

However, despite impending change coming that will see some difficult decisions made by the Manchester City board led by incoming sporting director Hugo Viana, Guardiola has stressed the importance of De Bruyne, Silva and Gundogan over the course of his tenure in England.

“Listen, I cannot figure out my period, my tenure here, my time here without players like Gundo (Ilkay Gundogan), like Bernie (Bernardo Silva), like Kevin (De Bruyne), like all these guys. I’m more, more, more than grateful like you cannot imagine,” Guardiola said.

“The success that we had as managers is not interpreted, it’s not visualised, it’s not seen without these players. It’s impossible. It’s impossible to argue or have even any subject. When they are maybe upset or sad because they don’t play, I can understand them.

“It’s impossible; the legacy that we’re going to leave behind for the next ones, players, managers, sporting directors, CEOs, and I think the last decade, two decades, it happened for that type of players.”

Reports in England have outlined that Manchester City are ready to part ways with up to seven first-team stars in the summer transfer window after an underwhelming drop-off in form, consistency and fitness levels.

Pep Guardiola added this week, “And there are a lot. Not just these three or four. There are a lot, a lot. Like John (Stones), like players that are not here anymore. And that’s why, it’s impossible.

“But the reality is today, try to win today and tomorrow and the next games. And this is today; I take a decision. It’s never, ever against anything about them. Nope.”

Manchester City’s only shot at silverware this season remains the FA Cup and Pep Guardiola will be keen to use the mood lift and momentum his side have picked up parts across January and February courtesy of new signings and some results to guide the team to success.