Alarms sounded in Manchester after Pep Guardiola’s statements about his future. “The reality is that I’m closer to leaving than staying. I’ll be here next season, then we’ll talk, but I’ve been here eight or nine years… we’ll see,” explained the man from Sampedor. In this way, the sporting director of the Citizens club is already working on finding a replacement for the Catalan coach.
Once Guardiola leaves Manchester City, his replacement on the Etihad Stadium bench will have a more than difficult challenge. Since his arrival in the English city in 2016, the coach has left an indelible mark and his successor will have a more than difficult challenge.
According to sources in England, the name that is most popular in the casting of Guardiola’s replacements is Xabi Alonso. The San Sebastian coach has had a historic season with Bayer Leverkusen and they see him as the ideal coach to continue the work and the playing model of all these years.
Since taking over Bayer Leverkusen in October 2022, Alonso has revolutionised the team, making them Bundesliga champions and giving them tactical resources that have won over the football world. The man from Tolosa is aware that he has the potential to take charge of the best teams in the world, and the challenge of joining the Manchester City bench appeals to him.
Guardiola ‘baptized’ Xabi Alonso
There is no doubt that Guardiola also sees Xabi Alonso as the ideal replacement to continue the work he has done for all these years. During last season, the current Manchester City coach praised the good work done by the man from San Sebastian in Germany on more than one occasion: “If you ask me about the work he is doing? Honestly… ‘wow’. They play incredibly well,” he acknowledged.
Guardiola’s contract with City expires at the end of the 2024/25 season, so the Manchester City hierarchy is already working on his replacement. Xabi Alonso will continue with Bayer Leverkusen this coming season, but will be keeping an eye on his phone for the much-awaited call from Manchester City.
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