I'm gutted. Floored. Knew it was happening, but still.
I can't thank Pep enough for everything. The football, the trophy haul, the enjoyment, the way he stood in our corner and fought for Manchester, fought for City. Always lived by the philosophy of be better - whether it's referees or var selectively officiating, rivals claiming their best players are injured only to name them in the stating line up, fine, bring it on. We must be better. What a way to live any life.
If I have one regret, it's that 115 was not resolved and cleared whilst he was still here, as there's enough empty heads out there to keep that going until the verdict is done.
I honestly don't know how some of these tribal 'what about city ' idiots, in the media and of the public, can listen to Pep talk about losing his mum, the Manchester bombing, and then they say 'yeah but 115'. The same jealous faces that claimed he's ruined football by winning things, that he's won nothing until he done it twice, three times, four times. Yeah ok then, challenge accepted.
He's a legend of the game, and I hope he gets the respect he deserves for what he's done on our pitches, and most of all for being human about it. He's won and lost but never, ever has he lost the passion for our game or for our club. Anybody would love him representing their club, and we get to say he's forever Blue. Sorry, but regardless of the title, regardless of the 115, we won anyway. Because what a hell of a ride we've had.
Forever Blue, Pep is the essence of Manchester.
The biggest job we have now, we have to back Maresca, we have to avoid idolising Pep as a forever unmatchable force, otherwise we'll follow the raggies into obscurity. This is where our club needs to show again that we're more than just one person, even if it was a very, very special person.
Now I'm off to chop some onions, honest.
