Pep Guardiola quit Manchester City 100 times during his decade in charge, according to chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who said he became the Catalan’s psychiatrist.
Al Mubarak said City will “very soon” announce Guardiola’s replacement, which is set to be Enzo Maresca, after what he called a “thoughtful and structured process”, saying he is convinced they have found the right man.
Al Mubarak said that Guardiola had far exceeded his own expectations by staying at City for 10 years, in which time he won the Premier League six times, two trebles, the 2023 Champions League and 20 trophies in all.
But the UAE businessman, who runs the club for owner Sheikh Mansour, said he did not try and persuade Guardiola to change his mind this year when he announced his intention to leave, recognising it was the right time.
Al Mubarak said: “He’s more than just the manager of the club. To me, he’s a friend. We are close friends. Over these years we have become close friends. And I will say, and I don’t know if he will admit it, but I consider myself his psychiatrist.
“I had to help him over the years. Not in the good times – the good times is easy – it’s always the challenging part. And inevitably over these last ten years we’ve had a lot of ups and some downs.
“And in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these ten years, just so you know, just for the record. There’s the story [Aesop’s fable], The Boy Who Cried Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says I quit, it doesn’t mean he’s quitting. You don’t take it that seriously – you have to manage him.
“I would say I always had a very clear understanding with Pep, because of that analogy of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. Whenever he quits or whenever he thinks it’s time, I will always convince him to come back, until the time where I know it’s actually the real time – where it’s actually the real moment Pep decides actually it’s time.
“And 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’s why it was the right thing for him and it was the natural thing.”
Guardiola was the longest-serving manager in all four divisions before his departure and Al Mubarak believes the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man altered English football.
“For us to have a manager stay for ten years – particularly in the modern game, in modern football – that’s exceptional,” he added.
“He changed English football. I say that with the utmost humility, but I believe that. You look at the way the league has evolved, the way football is played in this league from ten years ago to today. It’s unquestionable, his influence over the game, his influence over football that’s being played, his influence on the tactics, his influence on the coaching. He has left his thumbprint over this league.”
Maresca, who was Guardiola’s assistant when City won the treble in 2023 and who led Chelsea to the Club World Cup last summer, is likely to take over.
And Al Mubarak said: “What I can say at the moment is we’ve gone through a very thoughtful and structured process and the team is convinced – and I am convinced, rest assured – that we will bring in the right manager for this club. Just be patient with us. Very soon we’ll announce it.”
