Pep Guardiola’s Continued Commitment to Manchester City
Pep Guardiola continues to show incredible energy and dedication to his role as the manager of Manchester City, despite the immense pressures of a treble challenge. The Spanish tactician has been vocal about his deep connection with the club, emphasizing that the environment at City is one of the key reasons he has stayed for over a decade.
“There would be no 10 years here, even with good titles, if I didn’t have this incredible environment,” Guardiola said, highlighting the unique atmosphere that surrounds the club. “I still have incredible energy, and I’m so good at coming here to work on my days off.”
The manager also spoke about how the club supports its staff and players, both on and off the pitch. He mentioned that the people at City take care of everyone in all details, allowing the players and coaching staff to focus solely on their responsibilities.
“It’s like a bubble that makes people feel good. It’s a big club, but here it is a family,” he added. Guardiola acknowledged that players can sometimes be disappointed when they don’t get enough playing time, but he believes that, for the most part, there is no room for complaints.
A Supportive Club Environment
Guardiola pointed to several examples of the club’s off-field support, including how former players such as Aymeric Laporte and Ilkay Gundogan have spoken positively after leaving. He emphasized that City is a truly extraordinary club, not just in terms of performance but also in how it treats its employees.
“In Covid times, in how many (organisations) around the world, or clubs, were people fired or… I don’t know the right word in English – but here, not even once, the same salary, not reduced,” he said. “Even in the toughest moment in our lives, there were always there.”
This kind of support, according to Guardiola, has helped him feel more relaxed this season, even though the team is chasing a domestic treble. He noted that the pressure is still present, especially before matches, but he feels more calm between games.
“I felt it a lot last season. I can’t imagine teams for who are (fighting) to not be relegated,” he said. “This season we won the Carabao Cup, are in the FA Cup final again and still fighting against Arsenal. It is really good.”
The Road Ahead
City will face Everton on Monday, needing a win to keep up the pressure on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. This contrasts with last season, when the team was out of title contention and primarily focused on Champions League qualification.
Guardiola admitted that he had been deeply concerned about the club’s future last year, especially regarding Champions League qualification. However, this season has brought a different kind of challenge, and he believes the experience will be valuable for the future.
“It would have loved to go through in the Champions League but it will be good learnings for me for the next season,” he concluded.
