Pep Guardiola makes double Manchester City recruitment request in fresh future hint | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has requested reinforcements to his backroom staff ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

The 53-year-old will begin preparations for the new season later this month, with Manchester City travelling to the United States for a four-match tour ahead of starting their latest Premier League title defence away to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in mid-August.

Guardiola’s side will be bidding to win an unprecedented fifth successive Premier League title next season, after Manchester City lifted the trophy for a fourth consecutive year in May, beating Arsenal to the title with a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on the final day of the season.

The title triumph was Guardiola’s 17th major trophy at Manchester City, although the Catalan coach has entered the final 12 months of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, with the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager’s deal expiring in 2025.

Guardiola has penned three previous extensions since arriving in east Manchester in 2016, and as well as winning the Premier League last season, the 53-year-old also guided the Sky Blues to the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

The Spaniard has overseen over 470 matches since his arrival, and will manage Manchester City during the newly-formatted UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup during the 2024/25 season.

Despite concerns that Guardiola could leave the club at the end of the next campaign, the manager has reportedly made two major recruitment requests to Etihad bosses prior to start of the new season next month.

According to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X, Guardiola has requested an additional set-piece coach and analyst for the first-team next season, with the 53-year-old manager wanting to ‘freshen up’ his backroom support staff.

Members of Guardiola’s first-team staff have been on high profile secondment this summer, with club psychologist David Young joining England Cricket for the T20 World Cup, and physio Tom O’Malley being part of Belgium’s staff for the European Championship.

Manchester City will play four friendlies prior to the FA Community Shield clash with Manchester United at Wembley Stadium, with games against Celtic, AC Milan, Barcelona and Chelsea in the USA.