Pep Guardiola set to decide Manchester City future NEXT WEEK after Carabao Cup final against Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola will take a break and make his mind up over his future at the club after Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal, as per a new report.

Guardiola and City were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League by Real Madrid for the third year in a row on Tuesday night as a Vinicius Jr. brace helped Los Blancos extend their advantage from the first leg and a seal a 5-1 aggregate win in the Round of 16 tie.

The Blues remain in the running for a treble of trophies in their first full season under director of football Hugo Viana, who has made sweeping changes to Guardiola’s ranks since replacing Txiki Begiristain in 2025.

City are nine points adrift of Arsenal in the Premier League table and despite having a game in hand over the Gunners, their recent form does not instil great confidence among even the most optimistic supporters over a sensational hijack of what is increasingly looking like a first league title for the north Londoners in 22 years.

What is next for Manchester City and Guardiola?

However, Manchester City have a golden opportunity on their hands on Sunday as they taken on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in search of their first piece of silverware in two seasons and perhaps more importantly, a desperately needed confidence boost.

Crucially, it has been revealed by Mail Sport’s Jack Gaughan that Guardiola will use the time away after this weekend’s cup final to take a break and mull over his Manchester City future.

Manchester City have two weeks off in the upcoming international break after Wembley before they return to action against Liverpool in the FA Cup quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium on April 4 – when Guardiola will not be in the dugout as he would be serving the final of his two-game touchline ban.

Amid this season’s chaos, Guardiola is not believed to have the time and ease to make an informed decision on how much he has left in the tank as he approaches the end of his 10th campaign as Manchester City manager.

What has Guardiola said on his Manchester City future?

Guardiola has been heavily linked with a potential departure from the Etihad Stadium this summer, despite being under contract till the end of the 2026-27 season.

Executives at the Etihad Stadium are understood to have accepted that Guardiola will likely not sign a renewal beyond 2027 and have hence formed an early-stage five candidate shortlist to find a potent replacement for the 55-year-old Catalan.

Despite constant speculation over his future in England’s north-west, Guardiola has maintained that he is under contract and is excited to improve a new-look Manchester City squad, having been handed a series of young, hungry players to work with by Viana in the last 12 months.

A firm decision on Guardiola’s future – regardless of whether he decides to honour the final year of his current deal or not – is not expected to come before the end of the season as Manchester City remain in the title race, having reached the Carabao Cup final as well as the FA Cup quarter-final.