Pep Guardiola breaks silence on Manchester City future with 3-word response

Pep Guardiola briefly spoke to Sky Sports ahead of their crucial fixture against Bournemouth as he was asked for the first time on reports he will end his 10-year spell at Manchester City this weekend

Pep Guardiola has broken his silence after arriving at Bournemouth as he gave a three-word response when asked about reports he is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season.

It was strongly reported on Monday night (May 18) that the City manager would stand down after Sunday’s final Premier League game against Aston Villa.

City have yet to respond publicly to the speculation and Guardiola was allowed to focus on the job in hand as he paused briefly for a TV interview ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

Asked how much reports on his future had affected preparation for the game, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “Zero, absolutely zero.”

Guardiola, who has a year remaining on his contract, was likely to face more questions on the matter after a match City needed to win to take the title race to the final day of the season.

Former Manchester City midfielder Patrick Vieira is hoping reports that Guardiola will leave the club in the coming days are “not true”.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Vieira said: “I hope it is not true, because since he’s been at City I think he’s up there with Sir Alex Ferguson as one of the greatest managers in the Premier League, and it will be a massive loss for Manchester City.”

If confirmed, Guardiola’s departure would bring to an end one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history.

Since the 55-year-old’s appointment in 2016, City have won 20 trophies including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

They have also won the FA Cup three times and lifted the Carabao Cup on five occasions, including both competitions this term.

It has also been claimed that Guardiola’s former assistant Enzo Maresca has been lined up replace him, having been out of work since leaving Chelsea at the start of the year.

Maresca, 46, worked as Guardiola’s assistant during their treble-winning campaign in 2022-23, having previously been part of City’s academy set-up.

The Italian subsequently guided Leicester to promotion to the Premier League before joining Chelsea, where he won the Club World Cup and Conference League during his only full season in charge.