Pep Guardiola has confirmed in an interview with ESPN that he plans to take a break from football once his current contract with Manchester City expires in 2027. The Spanish coach indicated that while he isn`t sure if this break will lead to permanent retirement, he is certain he will step away from the game for a period. He stated, “After my contract with City expires, I will stop. I`m sure of that. I don`t know if I`ll retire, but I will take a break.”
Reflecting on the past season, Guardiola acknowledged its difficulty, admitting to making mistakes. He explained that the recent dip in form wasn`t due to a single issue but rather a combination of factors, emphasizing that challenges are inherent to football. The manager also contemplated how he would be remembered after his career: “We can`t live thinking about how others will remember us. When we die, we are quickly forgotten. But I hope the fans of Barça, Bayern, and City enjoyed watching my teams.”
Guardiola further commented on the learning process in the sport. While it`s commonly believed that more is learned from defeats, he asserted that he also gains insights from victories. He recognised that Manchester City`s dominant run couldn`t last forever and that a downturn was inevitable, though perhaps not as significant as experienced. He praised the team`s exceptional achievements over the past nine years but stressed the current need to analyse the situation to determine the best path forward for future performance.