MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola has expressed his intention to “rest” following his announcement about leaving Manchester City, emphasizing that he won’t be taking up another coaching role “for a while.”
On Friday, Guardiola confirmed his decision to conclude his decade-long tenure at the Etihad Stadium after the upcoming final match of the season against Aston Villa.
The 55-year-old coach has been speculated to pursue national team positions in the future but plans to take a break before making any decisions about his next steps.
“Now, it’s time to rest,” Guardiola stated at a news conference.
“I have no plans to coach for a while. Otherwise, I’d still be involved. I need to take a step back; I will not train for a while.”
When Jurgen Klopp announced his departure from Liverpool in 2024, he cited exhaustion as a primary factor for leaving Anfield.
Asked if he felt similarly, Guardiola concurred.
“Absolutely,” he affirmed.
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Peek into the remarkable statistics from Pep Guardiola’s decade at Manchester City as the club acknowledges his impending departure at the season’s end.
“I feel that I won’t have the necessary energy to compete for titles every three days while leading the players,” he explained.
“I know I possess that energy but I sense I may not have it going forward. It’s been ten years.”
“The major decisions are not made out of a lack of ambition or desire to continue; rather, this moment feels like the right time.”
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After a 1-1 draw against Bournemouth on Tuesday, which confirmed Arsenal‘s championship, Guardiola stated he would consult with City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak regarding his future.
He informed the City squad of his intention to step down on Friday morning, confessing he had anticipated this could be his concluding season “for a while.”
“It’s not about precisely when the decision was made,” Guardiola noted.
“It’s not an immediate choice. It’s more of a feeling that it’s the right time to do so.”
“It’s not about yesterday or just one week ago. It’s been on my mind for a while, but during the competition, I need the players engaged and focused with me.
“When there’s nothing left to fight for, that’s when I want to say a proper farewell to my fans on Sunday.”