Guardiola breaks his silence and delivers a phrase that does not go unnoticed

Pep Guardiola once again placed himself at the center of the football debate. In the press conference ahead of Manchester City’s clash against West Ham, the Catalan coach tried to downplay rumors about a potential departure, but ended up fueling the conversation with a statement as honest as it was powerful: “I won’t be here forever.”

With City sitting just two points behind Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in the Premier League race, Guardiola admitted that his team still has room for improvement and that, at present, it is “not at the required level to win the title.” Beyond the sporting analysis, the spotlight inevitably shifted to his future, a topic that resurfaces every season and now gains renewed relevance given the context and stage of the project.

Guardiola was clear in denying any formal talks regarding an immediate exit, but he also made it clear that time moves on and that the club must be prepared for what lies ahead.

Contract in place, focus on the present and a message of calm

The City manager reminded everyone that he still has 18 months left on his contract, stressing that his absolute priority is the short term. “I’m here. Whatever has to happen, will happen,” he repeated, making it clear that there are no imminent decisions or ongoing negotiations.

Guardiola insisted that football is constantly changing, even when long-term contracts are in place. For him, thinking too far ahead makes little sense when the calendar is tight and immediate performance demands full attention. His focus remains on West Ham, on managing the squad, and on keeping City competitive in an increasingly demanding Premier League.

However, the message goes beyond the immediate situation. Guardiola did not close the door on a future departure, he simply accepted it as a natural reality within any sporting cycle.

A competitive City, but still far from its best version

Despite being firmly in the title race, Guardiola was self-critical. He acknowledged that City are getting results but still fall short of the level needed to dominate the league as they have in previous seasons. Injuries and absences continue to impact the squad: Rodri, Jérémy Doku, John Stones and Oscar Bobb will miss the West Ham match, although they could return after Christmas.

The coach praised the mentality and commitment of his players, but hinted that there are tactical and footballing aspects that must improve. For a manager as demanding as Guardiola, competing is not enough, excellence remains the benchmark.

The future of the bench and the inevitable succession plan

Guardiola’s comments come at a time when long-term planning is already being discussed internally at City. Although the coach insists the issue is not currently on the table, his statement about not being around “forever” serves as a calm but unmistakable warning.

City know that sooner or later they will have to think about a transition. Guardiola, far from dramatizing the situation, normalizes it. There is no rupture, no public fatigue, just an acceptance that even the most successful projects eventually come to an end.

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