Is this Pep Guardiola's last week at Manchester City? We're about to find out

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Guardiola looked puzzled. “Rumours?” He replied. He then made a hasty exit. “Have a lovely evening,” he smiled, as he slipped away. It was similar on Friday, when it was put to him that Saturday’s cup final would be his final trip to Wembley. “One more year of contract,” he said with such a cheeky, enigmatic demeanour that it felt like he was toying with everybody. He got up and left as he delivered it. Speak to people in football and the sense is there is a real possibility that this is going to be the final week of Guardiola’s decorated decade in Manchester. He is going into it as you might expect: focusing on the next game, as City need to travel to Bournemouth to keep the Premier League title race alive. He said his players will not be allowed even one beer on Saturday evening, and that they should save their celebrations for a big do to be held at the Co-op Live arena, over the road from the Etihad Stadium, the day after the final game of the season. It follows a parade around the streets of Manchester that will happen regardless of who wins the title, and is set to be a big bash, open to supporters, which will include celebrations for the WSL title won by the women’s team. It may be that former men’s team players are in attendance too. It will also serve as a final farewell for Bernardo Silva and John Stones, whose departures have already been confirmed. City insist that there has been no official decision regarding Guardiola’s future, that they are working to the expectation he stays and until he tells chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and the hierarchy that he is leaving, anything can happen — but it is possible that party could be Guardiola’s final bow, too. The “I have a contract” line is the one that he has used repeatedly ever since The Athletic revealed at the turn of the year that City had approached Enzo Maresca in the event of Guardiola leaving. On Saturday afternoon, footage emerged of him being asked about his future by the BBC, an interview filmed within a few minutes of his cheeky press conference escape. He said yes, and then got annoyed when asked to confirm if he meant next season. “I know the answer, you should know the answer. I am here at the end of the season of the Premier League.” Bad news for the rest of the Premier League – Pep’s sticking around! pic.twitter.com/V2KCWzFCpV — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 16, 2026 City fans are quick to point out that he has never given any indication, through his words if not always body language, that he intends to leave. It is a very fair point. You could argue that he could easily say, “I will be here next season” rather than “I have a contract” but a bigger indication is that there are several different sources in different departments around the City first team, speaking anonymously like others in this article who are not cleared to speak publicly, who are expecting Guardiola to go at the end of the season. Preparations have been made in different areas of the club in case he does go, which, like approaching Maresca, cannot be taken as signs that he definitely is going, but do demonstrate that there is a real possibility that he does. The news that his long-term fitness coach, and friend, Lorenzo Buenaventure is leaving City at the end of the season is considered by some people who know them as another sign that the manager could be set to follow. The timing of any announcement of his departure has also been a topic of discussion among some people around Guardiola. The thinking seems to be that, with the Premier League title still live, things may tick along quietly for the next few days, pending Arsenal’s game against Burnley on Monday night and City’s at Bournemouth on Tuesday. If the title race is over by midweek, it is suggested, then official confirmation could come a few days ahead of the final match of the season against Aston Villa next Sunday. If the title race goes to the final day, then things could become complicated, but would be ironed out somehow. Of course, Guardiola could decide on staying after all, and that would make things a lot easier. He is said to feel energised and proud of his team’s development over the season. What is certain is that they seem to be in a good place heading into the summer, regardless of the outcome of the title race, and they would surely thrive next season with Guardiola in charge. Part of him must be tempted to stick around. He has previously resolved to leave City only to do a U-turn; two summers ago, he had planned to step aside at the end of the 2024-25 season, along with director of football Txiki Begiristain. The Football Association had approached him about the England job, but did not get a firm response either way. Begiristain’s departure was confirmed that October and yet Guardiola signed a new contract a month later, which came as a shock even to some of those closest to him. Last summer, it was pretty clear from his body language that he was exhausted. Despite the energy that seemed to be breathed into the team during City’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States, where a new team began to gel, the manager was still drained. That changed quickly, and as soon as the players met up again in August, he set about arguably his main mission for the season, fostering a strong dressing room and a good spirit within the group. City had lost so many of their leaders in the previous six months, including Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin De Bruyne, that Guardiola knew he had to set the standards all over again, and that was also necessary after the difficult middle period of last season, which damaged morale massively. Guardiola, people close to him say, has fallen in love with his team during the course of the season. The Catalan has talked about being effectively addicted to the job, saying after signing that new contract in November 2024 that he knows he should step away and enjoy a quiet life, but that he cannot. That was in the week that he signed his two-year contract in November 2024, though even there there are those close to him who only ever expected him to see out the first year. That would mean a departure in the next seven days. After the final, Bernardo Silva said City still have a “small dream” of winning the title, which would make for the second domestic treble of Guardiola’s remarkable time in charge. That quest will dominate the agenda over the coming days, but there could be an even bigger story on the horizon. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms