“It’s one to watch” – Former Manchester City defender makes Pep Guardiola future admission | OneFootball

Following Tuesday’s demoralising 5-1 aggregate Champions League exit to Real Madrid, one former Manchester City defender has admitted that it now ‘feels like’ the ongoing campaign could be Pep Guardiola’s final season at the club.

The uncertainty surrounding the Catalan’s tenure has intensified as City enter the final stretch of the ongoing 2025/26 season, where the Blues currently trail Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal by nine points in the Premier League table.

Pep Guardiola is currently nearing the end of his tenth season in East Manchester – a decade that has seen the club secure a staggering six Premier League titles and a historic Treble, featuring their first ever Champions League crown.

However, the lack of a formal contract extension or confirmation from the Catalan himself that he will be staying on into his final year has left supporters questioning if Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley could be one of the final times we see Guardiola leading the side in a major domestic showpiece.

What do former Man City stars think of Guardiola’s future?

Now, speaking to 10bet, former Manchester City and England defender Wayne Bridge has admitted that the ongoing campaign feels as though it could be Guardiola’s final season at the club.

“It kind of does [feel like Pep Guardiola’s last season in charge of Manchester City], but with Pep you never really know. It does feel like it could be, but you just never know – perhaps he’s thinking about something else in the future,” Bridge explained.

He continued, “He has been managing Manchester City for a long time – almost a decade with the club. I think it’s one to watch for the rest of the season and see what happens. He’s definitely not leaving behind a dying team.

“If anything, he’s building a team that will probably progress next season with new signings and changes. I’d love to see him stay for another season at least just to watch this group of players develop and see what they do next season.

“I’d love to see him stay because I think this team is only going to get better.”

Who could replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City?

One name who has been strongly linked with the top job at Manchester City is former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who reportedly held indirect talks with Etihad Stadium officials late last year over the possibility of the position becoming available.

“I don’t think you could say Enzo Maresca is not the right choice. He’s been at the club before and probably has the respect of the players,” Bridge admitted.

“Choosing a manager for a club is really tough. Sometimes you bring in big names, and it just doesn’t work. But looking at him, I think the players would respond well to him, so it’s not a bad shout at all.

“I think he’ll definitely be in the running for the job if and when Pep decides to call it a day.”

The mention of Enzo Maresca carries significant weight given his deep roots within the City Football Academy (CFA), and previous reports indicating that informal conversations had already been held between representatives of the Etihad Stadium club and the Italian.

Having led the EDS to success before serving as Pep Guardiola’s first-team assistant during the 2022/23 Treble-winning season, Maresca’s tactical philosophy is seen as perhaps the seamless transition the board desires.

Whether Pep Guardiola opts for one final ‘last dance’ or passes the torch to a former apprentice like Enzo Maresca for the 2026/27 campaign and beyond, the decision will likely hinge on the outcome of this Sunday’s clash at Wembley and the subsequent squad audit led by Hugo Viana.