Pep Guardiola threatened to quit Manchester City “100 times” during his decade-long reign as manager but chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said this time he knew the Spaniard “actually meant it”.
Guardiola, 55, stepped down at the end of this season after leading the club to 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.
He had one more year remaining on his contract but said in his last news conference that the club needed a “new manager” and “new energy”.
Speaking in his annual interview with in-house media, Khaldoon said he realized the exit was to become a reality, adding: “I knew it and that’s why I didn’t fight it.
“Throughout these years, I’ve always fought it and always brought him back because I knew that was always the answer.
“But in this particular one, I think he knew – and I knew that he knew – and that is why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing.”
Before last month’s FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, Guardiola was asked whether the visit to Wembley Stadium would be his last. He replied by saying “no way”, and that he had “one more year [on his contract]”.
But the playful way in which he delivered that line and his quick exit from the room raised a few eyebrows, adding to the mounting speculation.
Guardiola was asked after the draw at Bournemouth on 19 May whether he would still be in charge next season and he replied by saying he had to talk to Khaldoon. His decision was confirmed three days later.
Credit: bbc
