With his contract ending in June 2025 in the north of England, Catalan coach Pep Guardiola is approaching yet another Champions League campaign with the unwavering ambition of winning it again.
“The last dance” on the star track for Pep Guardiola? This Wednesday (9 p.m.), Manchester City and its Catalan coach begin their 2024-2025 Champions League campaign with the reception of Inter Milan in their lair at the Etihad Stadium. A shock opening against the Italian champion that could launch the Skyblues towards yet another European epic, a few months before the end of “Pep’s” contract. The latter, already winner of three Cups with big ears – in 2009 and 2011 with FC Barcelona then in 2023 at the helm of City – never tires of victories and sets out to conquer the continental trophy again. His final conquest on the Citizens bench? It’s probable, even if the uncertainty persists.
“Nine years in the same club (until June 2025) is an eternity. I do not rule out extending the contract, declared the Spanish technician last May to the BBC . I want to make sure it’s the right decision for the club and the players. When I decide, I’ll talk to the CEO and the sporting director. But I want to start the season, and see how everything goes and how connected we are. Then we’ll see. Four months later, when it comes to discovering the new formula of the C1, his decision remains pending. Rather logical.
Favorite, as always
In any case, if Guardiola hoped that the “connection” persists between him, his players and his management, he has been served since the beginning of the season. Four wins in four Premier League games, a calm but coherent transfer window (arrival of Savinho, return of Gündogan, departure of Alvarez) and a “cyborg” Erling Haaland at the top of his game (nine goals in four games), all the lights are green for the sky and white. Especially since Rodri and Phil Foden, the two best players last year, have not even started the machine, accumulating only 45 minutes played between them in the championship. So, what can happen to Manchester City during the league phase, which has a very favorable schedule in store for them?
Apart from two perilous away games, on the pitch of Juventus Turin (December 11) and in Paris (January 22), Kevin De Bruyne and his partners should accumulate points against more modest teams (Slovan Bratislava, Sparta Prague, Sporting Portugal, Feyenoord, Club Bruges). Enough to finish ahead of their 35 opponents and reach the round of 16 directly as the number 1 seed? “Let’s win our first game, then the second, and see what happens in the last games. It’s like in the Premier League, there’s no need to look at the table now,” wanted to temper “Pep”, as often, at a press conference on Tuesday. Delighted to rub shoulders with “the historic team” of Inter Milan and its “incredible mentality”for a remake of the 2023 final (won 1-0 by the Citizens), the former Barça coach is showing all his calm at the start of the season. Even if, behind the scenes, the club is going through a period of turbulence.
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A sword of Damocles hanging over the head
Since Monday, the Manchester club has had to explain itself to an independent commission on the 115 indictments – 80 financial offences, 35 additional for an alleged lack of cooperation in the investigation – which the Premier League has accused it of since 2008. This highly-discussed trial in the UK is likely to last until a possible verdict in early 2025. With points deducted or even excluded from the English premier division, Manchester City is exposed to heavy sanctions. Enough to hasten Pep Guardiola’s departure next June?
“I know what people are looking for, what they are waiting for. I know because I have read it for many years. But I have always said that everyone is innocent until proven guilty.”the Catalan recently hammered home in the columns of the Telegraph . A way to muddy the waters to focus exclusively on the upcoming competitions. First and foremost the Champions League, which Manchester City dreams of winning for the second time in its history before, perhaps, saying goodbye to its iconic conductor.
