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Jurgen Klopp once joked that he would like Pep Guardiola to leave Manchester City, but as the Catalan battles for a sixth Premier League title in seven seasons, it’s easy to feel the seriousness of the humour.
Liverpool have been City’s most consistent opponents in that era and, in any other six-year generation, they would have more than just the trophy in their cabinet. Klopp finished his campaigns with 92, 97 and 99 goals and yet he only finished at the top level with the latter goal.
It was Arsenal who fell short last season, unable to keep pace as City won 12 Premier League games in a row between February and May. Mikel Arteta’s side enjoyed one of their best campaigns in recent memory but it wasn’t enough.
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City have become a juggernaut under Guardiola, winning almost inevitably despite constant doubts from the outside. Poor starts, injuries, bumps in the road and stacked games have done little to impede the momentum and this season looks to be no different.
Guardiola signed a two-year contract extension just over a year ago and for Klopp and Arteta, 2025 was seen as an opportunity to take control. It has long been reported that City are in need of a new manager for the 2025/2026 season. , but on Monday, hope was restored.
Asked if it was conceivable to extend his stay at City, Guardiola replied: “Well, yes, of course!But I can also leave tomorrow. A year is a long time in football. I walk in with long hair and a look at what happened.
“I would have loved the team with 100 points to stay eternally. At all the clubs this happens.”
Guardiola is famously last-minute with his decision to leave a club. He announced his exit from Barcelona in April after the feeling of burnout grew during an exceptionally toxic battle with Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid.
It may not reveal much until 2025, but the new feeling that comes with a new, young team can reinvigorate even the most jaded managers. There are projects at the Etihad, adding Erling Haaland, Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku and Josko Gvardiol.
And it is with City that Guardiola has the maximum productive chance of winning the maximum number of trophies. They are the most productive team in Europe and have the budget to constantly improve. With Txiki Begiristain and Ferran Soriano, he has other guys above him who know precisely what he needs and we are willing to give it to him.
Barcelona seemed to be the best environment, although Guardiola looked elsewhere for another challenge. There is every chance that until 2025, after nine seasons, he could leave Manchester.
Klopp and Arteta hope that’s the case.