Tag Archives: Pep Guardiola

Pep Leaving Quotes

These are wonderful comments released by City today:

 Pep Guardiola said: 

“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun.’ 

“And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City. 

“This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too. 

“We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way. 

“Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too. 

“Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness. A city united. 

“Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too. 

“Players don’t forget – every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy. 

“So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again. 

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. 

“Thank you for pushing me. 

“Thank you for loving me. 

“Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place. 

“Noel…I was right. 

“It has been so f****** fun. 

“Love you all.” 

Manchester City Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: 

“Over the last ten years honesty and trust have formed the bedrock on which we have navigated every situation together with Pep – always understanding that we could find the right answer together. Today the right answer is for Pep to finish his journey as the Manager of Manchester City. 

“There have been points along the way when he could have stopped, and it would have been enough. Somehow, Pep always found new energy and pushed on, finding different and innovative ways to continue winning and delivering success. 

“As a result, the Club has a decade of memories and success to be forever grateful for, and much more than that, an evolution that cannot be undone. 

“The unique approach that he brings to his coaching has allowed him to constantly challenge the accepted truths of our game. It is the reason that in the last ten years he has not only made Manchester City better – he has also made football better.” 

Manchester City Chief Executive Officer, Ferran Soriano added: 

“We have been privileged to work alongside Pep Guardiola for ten years. We have witnessed his greatness and dedication, but also enjoyed his companionship, his friendship and humanity. What a privilege it has been for so many of us at Manchester City! 

“Pep’s legacy is extraordinary and its true impact will be better assessed by Manchester City historians of the future. He contributed decisively to our journey to global excellence and his high standards will be a reference for our players and managers of the future. 

“If there is something more difficult than winning, it is winning again. It requires incredible persistence, resilience and the humility to start again every year, with the same energy, again and again. This is what Pep did. 

“Nobody would have believed, ten years ago, that we could win 20 trophies in this decade, playing entertaining football of such high quality. It was unthinkable… and yet it was done. 

“As we celebrate the past, we are also very happy to know that Pep will stay with the group and we will be able to use his knowledge and experience in so many of our other clubs to help managers and players. 

“We will forever be grateful to Pep and cherish so many unforgettable memories. He is a City legend… forever.” 

Pep Guardiola to Step Down as Manchester City Manager

A press release from Manchester City regarding Pep Guardiola:  Manchester City can confirm that Pep Guardiola will step down from his role as Manager this summer. 

The Catalan, who joined City in 2016, will depart as City’s most successful manager after an amazing decade of success at the Etihad Stadium, winning 20 trophies. 

Despite his departure as Manager of Manchester City, Pep will continue his relationship with City Football Group, by taking up a role as a Global Ambassador. The role will see him giving technical advice to the clubs in the group, working on specific projects and collaborations. 

In just his second season at the Club, Pep delivered a historic Premier League triumph, guiding his side to the title with a record-breaking 100-point haul – which remains an all-time competition record. The campaign proved one of the greatest and most dominant in Premier League history as his team set multiple records, including most goals scored (106), most wins (32), most away points (50), the biggest goal difference (+79) and the largest winning margin (19 points). 

Another exceptional campaign followed in 2018/19 as Pep’s side became the first team in the history of English football to win all four domestic trophies in a single season, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Community Shield. 

The 2022/23 season is considered as the one of the greatest in football history as Pep’s team secured a historic Treble – becoming only the second English side to achieve that feat. After winning a third consecutive Premier League title, City defeated Manchester United in the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium before overcoming Inter Milan at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul a week later to claim their first-ever UEFA Champions League crown. 

Victory in the UEFA Super Cup Final followed in August of that year, defeating Sevilla in a penalty shootout in Athens. City were then crowned world champions in Jeddah, defeating Fluminense in the FIFA Club World Cup Final. In doing so, City became the first English club in history to hold all five trophies in a calendar year. 

The 2023/24 season brought yet more history under Pep’s leadership, as he guided City to a fourth Premier League title in a row, becoming the first club in history of English football to win four top-flight titles in succession. 

And during the 2025/26 season, the Club have secured a Cup double, with the team winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. Pep will now step down after managing 593 games for City, which will mean he boasts the highest number of games in charge of any manager in our history. 

Pep’s achievements have seen him named Premier League Manager of the Season on five occasions and he has claimed the League Managers Association’s Manager of the Year award three times – more recognition of his sustained excellence at the very highest levels of the game. 

Away from the accolades, Pep’s legacy extends far beyond Manchester City, with his influence and tactical philosophy leaving a profound and lasting imprint across the English football pyramid, recognised and admired throughout the game. 

The Catalan has also become an adopted Mancunian across his ten years at the Club, certified by his awarding of an honorary degree by the University of Manchester at a ceremony in the historic Whitworth Hall, recognising his extraordinary contribution to the city of Manchester. 

Manchester City v PSG, Champions League Semi-Final 2021

The first leg of the Champions League semi final between Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain was played on this date (28 April) in 2021. Subscribers to this site can read about that game and the second leg below.

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The 2021 League Cup Final

Pep Guardiola’s team won the League Cup for a record-equalling fourth time in succession with a deserved victory over Tottenham on this day (25 April) in 2021. The London club had dismissed manager Jose Mourinho earlier that week, placing coach Ryan Mason in charge for this final. At 29 Mason became the youngest man to be in charge for a League Cup final.

City were the dominant team for most of the game, but the game’s only goal didn’t arrive until eight minutes from time. Aymeric Laporte rose to head home Kevin De Bruyne’s free kick.

After the final Pep Guardiola told the BBC: ‘That is what these players give for the future generations of this club. It is not winning [just] one title. This team in the last decade was the team in England – since Roberto Mancini won the Premier League, this team wins a lot of times in England. It’s nice, four Carabao Cups in a row, it means consistency in the team to be there. We beat Arsenal and Manchester United on the way so we can say we deserved to win this competition. The way we played was fantastic and it’s nice when you win a title. The most impressive thing is in the last 33 games we won 30.’

The victory meant City were now level with Liverpool on eight League Cup final wins and no team had bettered that success. Similarly no manager had won the competition more than Pep Guardiola.

In this Covid-hit season there was some positive news for fans as a limited number were allowed to attend the final wearing face masks. Stewards were told to actively look for fans taking them off and frequently they went into the crowd to ask fans to re-mask otherwise they’d face expulsion. The final attendance of 7,773 included around 2,000 from each club and a number of locally based residents. At the end those from Manchester and the neutrals present stayed to watch the Blues lift their eighth League Cup.

Match Stats

25 April 2021

Manchester City 1 (Laporte) Tottenham Hotspur 0

Attendance 7,773 (Covid restrictions)

You can read my comments about attending the final here:

Covid and the 2021 League Cup Final

The 2020s: Victory over Aston Villa

On 21 April 2021 Manchester City travelled to Aston Villa for a Premier League game that ended in a 2-1 victory, putting the Blues 11 points clear of second placed Manchester United. Pep’s team were closing in on the title. The game had not started so positively with Villa’s McGinn scoring the joint quickest Premier League goal (20 seconds) of the season to date.

City fought back with goals from Phil Foden (22 minutes) and Rodri (40) but then suffered a setback when John Stones was sent off just before the break for a challenge on Ramsey. Villa also had a player, Cash, sent off 12 minutes into the second half after receiving his first yellow card only three minutes earlier. Both challenges were on Foden, who had been exceptional again. After the match Pep commented about Foden: ‘This guy is growing. His influence in our games is massive. He’s becoming a serious player. Phil right now is becoming such an important player. His influence in the final third is so important.’

The away win meant City were the first team to win ten or more games in a row on more than one occasion (previous time straggled two seasons and was 11 in May-December 2017). 

The 2020s: Victory over Borussia Dortmund

After a surprising defeat in the League at home to Leeds (who were down to ten men throughout the second half) Manchester City’s return leg with Borussia Dortmund on this day (14 April) in 2021, ended with the same result as the first – 2-1. Dortmund had scored first on the night via Jude Bellingham, but the tie ended 4-2 on aggregate. This was a truly impressive victory.

City’s goals coming from Riyad Mahrez (penalty) and Foden. After Foden scored a screamer, he raced towards the manager and the two embraced knowing that City were through to the semi-finals. Afterwards Pep Guardiola told journalists what he experienced at that moment: ‘[Foden] found me. He ran [past] everyone and found me. That’s for all the club, all the people that work so hard to achieve what we have achieved so far. I said, “Well done, good shot, we go”.’

Pep highlighted the task now facing City: ‘We need three wins to win the Premier League. We are in the semi-finals of the Champions League. We are in semi-finals of the FA Cup and the final of the Carabao Cup. It is incredible what we have done. I am incredibly happy for this club, for this chairman and for the fans. Everyone.’

This was shaping up to be a great season.

The 2020s: Victory over Borussia Mönchengladbach

On this day (16 March) in 2021 City faced Monchengladbach in the second leg of this Champions League round of 16 tie. They had won the first leg 2-0 and went on to match that scoreline in this second leg. Due to Covid restrictions both legs of this tie were played at the Puskas Arena in Budapest and so this game enters the record books as one of the few home games not played in Manchester by the Blues.

City started the game without a recognised centre forward as both Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero were on the bench, but Pep Guardiola’s side were in control from the start. The German team were unable to cope with City’s quality, passing, creativity and movement.

The opening goal came when Kevin De Bruyne scored a wonderful 20 yard left footed strike after only twelve minutes. This was the 100th goal scored by City in all competitions this season. Six minutes later Ilkay Gundogan slotted the ball past the Monchengladbach ‘keeper following a great run and pass from Phil Foden.

Pep Guardiola enjoyed the victory: ‘It was a good performance; we controlled the game from the beginning. Players like Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva have a lot of quality, they help us a lot, but everyone was so committed and we’re delighted to be in the next stage. We now have everybody fit. That’s why we can rotate six or seven players. If you want to compete for competitions, you have to be fresh. The seasons are so long, we haven’t had one long week [off] since October.’

Post match the statisticians enjoyed highlighting a variety of City achievements. These included a couple of odd facts such as: Half of Monchengladbach’s defeats (5 out of 10) in the Champions League have been by City. City were also one of one three teams (AC Milan & Arsenal) to have kept seven consecutive clean sheets in the competition’s history.

Match Stats

16 March 2021

Manchester City 2 (De Bruyne & Gundogan) Borussia Monchengladbach 0

Attendance 0 (Covid restrictions)

Manchester City v Wolves, 2021

On 2 March 2021 Manchester City defeated Wolves 4-1, extending the Club’s unbeaten run to an outstanding 21 games in all competitions (it was widely reported at this time that no other Premier League team had managed more than four wins in a row so far in 2020-21!). In addition City had extended their unbeaten run to a club record equalling 28th game. Post-match Pep Guardiola rightly told Radio FiveLive: ‘In wintertime in England it’s hell and in that time we did something incredible. It’s more than remarkable.’

The 2020s: Victory over Swansea

On this day (10 February) in 2021 Manchester City travelled to Swansea for a FA Cup tie. It was another record-breaking day for Pep Guadiola’s team.

City defeated Swansea 3-1 to progress to the quarter-finals but the victory set a record for successive domestic wins by an English top-flight club, surpassing the previous best of 14 achieved by Preston in 1891-92 and Arsenal in 1987-88. Talking about City’s 15th consecutive win Guardiola commented: ‘It shows how special these players are. And we think of the next one. I know we broke a record of all-time. To do what we have done so far is quite remarkable. The record will be broken for sure, because sports is like this, but it means a lot, to do what we have done in the winter time and Christmas time is quite remarkable. It is the toughest time, but what is important is the way we are still playing with our consistency.’

City’s goals were scored by Kyle Walker (30 mins), Raheem Sterling (47) and Gabriel Jesus (50), with Morgan Whittaker (77) scoring a late consolation goal for Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

City have highlights here:

https://www.mancity.com/citytv/mens/swansea-city-v-manchester-city-63748586

The 2020s: Victory at Anfield

Manchester City’s meeting with Liverpool on this day (7 February) in 2021 was considered by some as the day the Blues’ run of great results would end. Playing at Anfield against the reigning champions was expected to be tough and, indeed, the first half was tight with little between the sides. In the 37th minute a great opportunity to take the lead was missed when a penalty, given for a foul on Sterling, was fired over by Gundogan. City fans watching at home due to Covid restrictions felt fate was working against them.

However, the second half started positively when, in the 49th minute, Gundogan lashed in a rebound after Liverpool ‘keeper Alisson had parried a Phil Foden shot. The lead didn’t last though as Mo Salah scored from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute. Ten minutes later Gundogan was played in by Foden to convert from close range after a defensive mix-up to make it 2-1. Three minutes later (76th minute) Sterling’s diving header from a clever cross by Bernardo Silva made the score 3-1.

Man of the match Phil Foden completed the scoring in style with a sizzling strike (83rd minute). It was thoroughly deserved as Foden had been outstanding throughout the game. 

The 4-1 victory lifted City five points clear of second-placed United and with a game in hand. This was also Pep Guardiola’s first win as a manager at Anfield. He summed up the game well: ‘I have a lot of emotions, many things happening in the game. Gundogan missed a penalty – it’s like a routine against them – but we started really, really well, doing what we want to do. In the second half, the way we reacted to the goal, the way we played with quality, made the difference.’

When asked about the destination of the League title he responded: ‘It is an important win, but it is February. Of course, the gap to fifth is big right now and [qualifying] for the Champions League next season is important – but 10 [League] wins in a row in this period is something exceptional.’

Match Stats 

7 February 2021

Liverpool 1 (Salah) City 4 (Gundogan 2, Sterling & Foden)

Attendance 0 (Covid restrictions)