Pep Guardiola to hold imminent talks with Man City chairman about his future
By Edward Elliot, Press Association Sport
Pep Guardiola plans to hold imminent talks with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak about his future amid reports he will leave the club at the end of the season.
Arsenal were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years after second-placed City failed to take the title race to the final day following Tuesday’s 1-1 draw against a Bournemouth team bound for Europe.
Build-up to the must-win game on the south coast was dominated by news of Guardiola’s possible summer departure, with Enzo Maresca rumoured to be his potential successor.
The City manager, who has a year remaining on his contract, refused to clarify the situation as he turns his attention to Sunday’s season finale at home to Aston Villa.
“With the club, I always talk but not now,” said Guardiola.
“Three, four seasons ago when there was one year left, the first thing you have to understand, I should talk with my chairman first.
“And when I talk with my chairman, we (may) decide to have one more year, we will talk (about) everything and we will decide. We (will) talk in the next days.”
City arrived in Dorset seeking to keep alive their pursuit of a domestic treble after lifting the FA Cup on Saturday following Carabao Cup glory in March.
Erling Haaland cancelled out Junior Kroupi’s first-half opener in the fifth minute of added time but the visitors were unable to force a last-gasp winner as Guardiola was denied a potential fairytale farewell.
Travelling fans chanted “one more year, one more year, Guardiola” during the game, while one fan unfurled a bedsheet with ‘Pep Stay’ written on it.
Referring to the potential negative impact of a manager announcing his departure ahead of time, Guardiola continued: “I always said that when you are fighting for the titles or FA Cups, in the first moment there is a problem the players don’t follow you anymore.
“You have to stay there and I have to talk with my chairman and I say ‘let the season go and when it will be over we will talk’. But he deserves the first talk about what we have to do.”
City are now an unassailable four points adrift of table-topping Arsenal.
Guardiola, who began his post-match press conference by congratulating the Gunners and their manager Mikel Arteta, initially used the word “we” when asked about his club’s future prospects, before saying “City”.
“Next season, we will be back,” said the 55-year-old, who has won six Premier League titles and the Champions League during his 10-year reign.
“City will be back and we will try to bring the team in that sense: competing until the end in the competitions.”
European Chez ð pic.twitter.com/qEjyf2Nd9n
— AFC Bournemouth ð (@afcbournemouth) May 19, 2026
Sixth-placed Bournemouth clinched continental qualification for the first time in the club’s 127-year history after guaranteeing a top-seven finish.
The Cherries’ historic achievement was a fitting way to mark the final home game of head coach Andoni Iraola, who was given a rousing send-off at full-time ahead of being replaced by Marco Rose in the summer.
“What a night it has been,” said Iraola, whose team visit Nottingham Forest at the weekend. “Probably the only thing you would change is the result because I think we should have won the game 2-0 or 3-0, probably.
“But it doesn’t change so much our position in terms of European qualification: we have Europa League already guaranteed and even a small chance to fight for the Champions League until the end.
“I think we played so well. It’s a game where there is a lot to play for and you have some nerves but I was enjoying the game.
“I was watching the supporters bouncing, an incredible atmosphere. The European qualification is incredible but the moments that we will remember from this night are even more important.”
