Pep Guardiola
May 2026
Pep Guardiola criticised VAR, saying he has “never trusted” the system as Manchester City chase Arsenal in the title race. He described decisions as a “flip of a coin” and urged his players to control outcomes on the pitch rather than rely on officiating reviews.
Pep Guardiola
May 2026
Pep Guardiola revealed he chose to watch Stockport County instead of the Champions League clash between PSG and Bayern Munich, jokingly dismissing the quality of the players and managers involved in the blockbuster fixture. Guardiola attended a lower-league match at Edgeley Park, prioritising his love for English football. Despite PSG’s eventual 5-4 thriller win, he had already committed to the visit and later made light-hearted comments about the decision.
John Stones
April 2026
John Stones has confirmed he will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, ending a 10-year spell that saw him become a key figure in one of the club’s most successful eras. Stones announced his decision publicly, reflecting on his growth and achievements under Pep Guardiola. Departing as a free agent, his exit signals a wider squad transition as City begin reshaping their roster for the next cycle.
Eli Junior Kroupi
April 2026
Manchester City have entered the race to sign Bournemouth teenager Eli Junior Kroupi, with Pep Guardiola reportedly a strong admirer as the Premier League champions prepare an aggressive move ahead of the upcoming transfer window. Kroupi’s breakout season has drawn elite interest, but Bournemouth are demanding around €80 million. City may need to act quickly to avoid a bidding war, with Guardiola viewing the versatile forward as an ideal tactical fit for his system.
Enzo Maresca
April 2026
Manchester City are preparing for the possibility of life after Pep Guardiola, with Enzo Maresca now the leading candidate if Guardiola leaves at the end of the season. The Guardian reported that discussions around Maresca have been positive, though Guardiola still has time left on his deal and no final departure decision has been confirmed. Maresca is already well known inside City after working as under-23 coach and then Guardiola’s assistant during the treble season. His strong spell at Leicester and later work at Chelsea have kept him high on City’s internal list, though any move could be complicated because he is still contractually tied to Chelsea after leaving in January.
Pep Guardiola
April 2026
Pep Guardiola said naming Bernardo Silva as Manchester City captain was his best decision of the season, praising the midfielder’s leadership and willingness to put the team first. The comments come as Bernardo’s exit at the end of the season is increasingly expected. Pep Lijnders confirmed Bernardo will leave when his contract expires in June. Guardiola has since said Bernardo had not personally told him yet, but he made clear that the Portuguese midfielder has been an outstanding captain and servant to the club
Bernardo Silva
April 2026
Bernardo Silva is set to leave Manchester City at the end of the season, with assistant manager Pep Lijnders effectively confirming that the club captain’s nine-year spell is coming to a close. The departure marks the end of one of the defining careers of City’s modern era. Lijnders said every good story comes to an end and that Silva deserves a proper send-off. The 31-year-old’s contract expires in June, and City are now preparing for life without a player Lijnders described as impossible to replace like for like.
Rodri
April 2026
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City want Rodri to stay, but made clear he would not block the midfielder if he decided he wanted to leave. Guardiola also acknowledged that Real Madrid’s appeal is obvious for any player, while stressing City’s preference is for Rodri to remain. Guardiola framed the issue as a matter of player happiness and club value, saying Rodri would only leave if the right offer arrived and if that was what he wanted. The comments came after Rodri openly admitted during the international break that he would be interested in returning to Spain and that Real Madrid are one of the clubs you cannot dismiss
Nico O’Reilly
March 2026
Nico O’Reilly scored twice in four second-half minutes as Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-0 to win the League Cup. The academy product’s breakout display delivered City’s ninth title in the competition and gave Pep Guardiola another major domestic trophy. Reuters reported that O’Reilly’s first goal followed a Kepa Arrizabalaga error, then Matheus Nunes supplied the cross for his second soon after. Arsenal had entered as strong contenders but failed to respond once City seized control after the break.
Pep Guardiola
March 2026
Pep Guardiola said fatigue and modern football demands were behind his decision to cancel Manchester City’s training session the day before facing Real Madrid. The manager made the unusual call despite City needing a huge comeback after losing the first leg 3-0. Guardiola pointed to late-night travel from Madrid and the weekend draw at West Ham as key reasons for giving players extra rest. He also argued that training no longer improves much at this stage of the season, noting City had done the same before wins over Borussia Dortmund and Fulham.
