Pep Guardiola - 2025/26

[OB1]

The downside of being reputable.

It is. I’ve just posted a reply to someone on X laughing at a post from a crap aggregator that has clearly picked up the story that the real source is believable.

 

[OB1]

If it’s confirmed Pep’s going i’ll be sure to come back here and take the piss out of all those weirdos who were desperate for him to leave!

I think they are going to get a nasty shock if he is going and Maresca is taking over, although it probably won’t matter who takes over: I don’t think anyone can maintain the levels of success Pep has delivered. Even if we fail to win another trophy this season, what he has done is pretty incredible in the circumstances.

I don’t for one moment preclude Enzo doing well but he in particular will likely be Pep lite. Vinny might be more gung-ho and a bit different style wise but a string of bus parking bastard opposition will probably require City to pass, pass, pass and not be as vertical as some want.

I have at last nearly finished Marti Perarnau’s third book about Pep (I’m just nearing the end of the Treble season) and the insights into Pep and his staff are - again - fascinating. Just read about how Pep designed the game plan for the Etihad league game vs Arsenal, it’s awesome.

 

[CΛL]

We knew the day of Pep leaving us was going to be soon and now it appears that day has arrived. Can't say I'm shocked. I do consider myself blessed to have been around when the maestro weaved his magic from the touchline and on the training pitch. It's brought us unprecedented success unlikely to ever be matched again.

What I am not so thrilled about is Maresca taking over. Cannot see why the club think this succession is the way to go. It's a huge call and one we can ill afford to get wrong.

The clubs got the last 3 managers right, and I think Maresca did a good job considering what a shit show it is at Chelsea these days.

Knows the club, speaks well in pressers, football is attacking and the Chelsea players going to war with ownership over his sacking says a lot about his leadership. Club World Cup win was massive against the champions league winners too.

We could do far worse I think. Who else is on the market? I know we all want Vinny but the pressure to follow Pep is enormous and I wouldn’t want Vinny’s legend to be tarred with potential managerial failure.

We had folk on here wanting Pep out this past couple years despite all he’s achieved. Would be difficult to stomach the same attitude towards Vinny.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Surprised with his ego he wouldn’t want to go on his own. With stone and Bernardo leaving I’m surprised he wants to share the limelight with them

Misery loves company.

 

[OB1]

I do know from past experience that you can have information from a great source within the club about intentions that ultimately do not pan out. I could name two player transfer examples. However, players are different to managers. So, if Pep has said he is leaving, I very much doubt he would have a last minute change of heart.

If Maresca has said yes to City, he won’t change his mind: I have zero doubt this is his dream job and it looks increasingly likely that he left Chelsea following discussions with City.

If Maresca does not have a formal offer yet, City could decide to go elsewhere but, given that Vinnie and Enrique are almost certainly not currently available, that seems very doubtful.

I know Jamie Jackson and Sam Lee out of the City press pack think Pep is leaving (don’t know of one that thinks he is staying).

I don’t want to believe Pep is about to say his farewells to us but I am now finding it very hard not to.

 

[vincent]

I do know from past experience that you can have information from a great source within the club about intentions that ultimately do not pan out. I could name two player transfer examples. However, players are different to managers. So, if Pep has said he is leaving, I very much doubt he would have a last minute change of heart.

If Maresca has saint yes to City, he won’t change his mind: I have zero doubt this is his dream job and it looks increasingly likely that he left Chelsea following discussions with City.

If Maresca does not have a formal offer yet, City could decide to go elsewhere but, given that Vinnie and Enrique are almost certainly not currently available, that seems very doubtful.

I know Jamie Jackson and Sam Lee out of the City press pack think Pep is leaving (don’t know of one that thinks he is staying).

I don’t want to believe Pep is about to say his farewells to us but I am now finding it very hard not to .

Maybe and who knows but Fabrizio Romano has been spot on with every City transfer recently and the consensus is he is connected to Viana. I note he still has the Maresca story pinned on his Twitter feed.

 

[Georgian Maestro]

Surprised with his ego he wouldn’t want to go on his own. With stone and Bernardo leaving I’m surprised he wants to share the limelight with them

There is zero chance you're a blue

 

[vincent]

There is zero chance you're a blue

He is one of half a dozen or so on here that have been shouting for a change the last couple of years. Seems they may now get their wish.

 

[noseve]

Surprised with his ego he wouldn’t want to go on his own. With stone and Bernardo leaving I’m surprised he wants to share the limelight with them

Perhaps he's not as precious as the average social media wanker, then?

 

[SWP's back]

Surprised with his ego he wouldn’t want to go on his own. With stone and Bernardo leaving I’m surprised he wants to share the limelight with them

Prick

 

[kaz7]

We never could have thought he would be here for ten years, it is amazing when you think about it, for me the centurions team was the best by far, i don't much like the current team bar a couple of them and too many legends left at the same time last summer.

I think we need to temper our expectations for the next couple of seasons

 

[youngbob]

Surprised with his ego he wouldn’t want to go on his own. With stone and Bernardo leaving I’m surprised he wants to share the limelight with them

Been meaning to mute you for a while. This sealed it. Thanks!

 

[Cityfan]

We never could have thought he would be here for ten years, it is amazing when you think about it, for me the centurions team was the best by far, i don't much like the current team bar a couple of them and too many legends left at the same time last summer.

I think we need to temper our expectations for the next couple of seasons

Agree with most points of your post, but disagree about the current team.
I think it is young and promising and I would love to have seen how it developed under Pep.
As it is it sounds like I will have to be fascinated to see how it develops under Maresca.

 

[Xhavenjoe]

We never could have thought he would be here for ten years, it is amazing when you think about it, for me the centurions team was the best by far, i don't much like the current team bar a couple of them and too many legends left at the same time last summer.

I think we need to temper our expectations for the next couple of seasons

I like this team, especially the younger lads like O Reilly and Khusanov and hopefully more coming through the academy. The likes of Nunes, Doku and Gvardiol really grew on me.
I was thinking along your lines with my favourite eleven but surprisingly a lot of them didn't play on the same teams together.
Just shows how good we have been over the Mancini, Pellegrini and Pep era.

 

[1961_vintage]

Can we expect complete change of all of the coaching staff if this proves to be true?

 

[OB1]

Can we expect complete change of all of the coaching staff if this proves to be true?

I would hope not.

Estriarte will go with Pep although he is not technically a football coach.

Lorenzo Buenaventura may well go too but that could depend on whether Pep is taking a sabbatical and how he got on with Maresca when they worked together. If and when Pep takes another job, I would expect him to rejoin Pep.

Xavier Mancisidor was a Pellegrini appointment so would think he would continue.

Pep L and Kolo didn’t work with Maresca at City but there was a rumour Pep L had taken up his extension clause. Viana may well have chosen Maresca with the intention of making minimum changes and told Enzo that he has to use the existing coaches to begin with.

 

[vmsuhail]

If you don’t like it, find another forum.

Echo chambers are not for me.

 

[pepguardiola'smoustache]

one thing is absolutely for sure...

guardiola's next press conference or interview is going to be full of questions all about this.

let's see how he handles them because, by now, he and the club will be fully aware of what's been/being said.

 

[K-Bo]

My feeling is he would have gone last year had the team not completely fell to pieces, and stayed until club was on more stable footing with rebuild.

Have always felt he'd leave this summer tbh. This was our golden era, post pep if we go back to winning league every 2-3 years like with mancini and then pellegrini I can leave with that.

 

[waspish]

one thing is absolutely for sure...

guardiola's next press conference or interview is going to be full of questions all about this.

let's see how he handles them because, by now, he and the club will be fully aware of what's been/being said.

Khaldoon sat next to him pep with a pen and Khaldoon saying am so happy pep is to sign a new 5 year deal! Oh by the way just heard we been cleared of the charges and we going to sue every fcuker in here and the media for every penny you they have!

Then I wake up! ;)