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As the 2025-26 season has progressed, the future of Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager has become a hot topic. Ever since David Ornstein reported for The Athletic that ‘sources outside of Manchester City’ believed that this could be Pep Guardiola’s final season as City manager, speculation over Guardiola’s future has grown. It has been reported that former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is Manchester City’s first choice to take over from Guardiola if he does depart the club this summer. However, listening to Guardiola speak, it does seem that City may have a replacement lined up for a manager who isn’t going anywhere.
Enzo Maresca is the favourite to succeed Pep Guardiola if does depart Manchester City at the end of this season.
Jacob Steinberg has previously reported for The Guardian that former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is the leading candidate to take over from Pep Guardiola as Manchester City manager if Guardiola leaves the club at the end of this season. Furthermore, Steinberg reports that there have been positive talks held between City and Maresca. It is also reported by Steinberg that Pep Guardiola is yet to decide if he will remain as City manager after this season. Manchester City have put a contingency plan in place in case Guardiola does leave the club. That contingency is Enzo Maresca replacing Pep Guardiola.
However, has Pep Guardiola dropped a hint over his future?
With is appearing that Manchester City have a contingency plan in place, if Pep Guardiola does leave the club, perhaps Guardiola has dropped a hint on his future. Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Everton, Guardiola was asked about how he was feeling during this season’s run-in. His answer may have revealed a clue about his future. He explained: “The process between games, I’m more calm than last season. Last season was 24 hours thinking about what happens if we won’t qualify for the Champions League. I felt that a lot.”
“I can imagine when a team is not relegated, this kind of stuff, it changes clubs, the players, financially you can’t do investment for good players. At the end, it’s the reason why the team has success, because they have good players.”
“But this season, we won the Carabao Cup, Final of the FA Cup again, still fighting against this Arsenal. So what can I say? It’s really good. I’d love to go through in the Champions League, but the level is higher and it’ll be good learnings for me for the next season.”
My thoughts on the situation with Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca.
It isn’t a surprise to learn that Manchester City have put plans in place in case Pep Guardiola does depart the club imminently. An organisation such as City will not want to be caught off guard if their manager walks away. The fact that City have sounded out Enzo Maresca shows that they have plans in place. However, it isn’t an indication that Pep Guardiola is set to walk away imminently.
For the longest time, my personal belief is that Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to be a manager who seems set to walk away imminently. Guardiola seems fully invested in the journey he is on with his new-look team. His team has taken giant strides this season, especially recently. Guardiola seems reinvigorated and up for leading this team to glory. Also, he made a point of saying what lessons he can from Manchester City’s disappointing Champions League campaign that he can carry into next season. That doesn’t sound like a manager who seems ready to walk off into the sunset.
Manchester City has a contingency plan in place if Pep Guardiola departs the club. Enzo Maresca is seemingly Manchester City’s choice to succeed Pep Guardiola. However, it doesn’t seem that Guardiola is a manager who is ready to walk away from his post. His answer about planning for next season’s Champions League seems to be his most revealing yet.
