- 6 hours ago
Guardiola on his Manchester City exit after Villa Premier League season finale
22/05/2026
CFGA, Manchester, UK
22/05/2026
CFGA, Manchester, UK
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:04Good afternoon, everyone. Hope you're well.
00:07Thank you for joining us for the manager's final pre-match press conference at the CFA
00:13ahead of some of the game against Villa. It's obviously a very busy room, so we'll take
00:18a show of hands for questions as ever. There's Mike's here inside of the room, so please
00:21just bear that in mind when you're asking your questions. We'll start with Ian at PLP,
00:25please. Hello, Pep. First of all, congratulations on a brilliant career here in the Premier League
00:32at Manchester City. How does it feel to be sat there about to say goodbye to this club?
00:40Yeah, really, really satisfied. I don't know the right words. Really satisfied, happy and proud
00:46and had been an experience, I would say, maybe of my life. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been
00:5310 years, so I cannot be more grateful for the amount of love and affection that I had
01:01known that today, these days, you know, for many, many years and nothing else.
01:07Why now?
01:09It's the time. It's not wake up, go to sleep one day, wake up in the day after, say,
01:14now is the time to live. It is a process that I felt it for a while and always the
01:22club
01:23respect me unbelievable for the fact that the decision, the club has to be, of course, ready.
01:29And I felt that, listen, this job is every two days during many, many years and South
01:36Park and Anfield and Madrid and Madrid and FA Cup. And now I have to, to see, you know,
01:47live my life and at least see what happens. And 10 years is a lot, a lot of time and
01:52I think
01:52the club needs, yeah, new manager, new energy, with this incredible place that we have right now.
02:01And, yeah, start to write another chapter. When was the first moment that you thought
02:06about leaving? No, it's not about when. So it's not, like I say, today or tomorrow. It's a,
02:13you know, a time that you feel, OK, let's do it. And it's not yesterday what happened,
02:19it was one week ago, it's a little bit, but of course, we're in the competition. I want to be
02:24completely, completely, completely away from because I need the players be with me and me with them.
02:31And when the moment we cannot fight for anything else because it's already achieved. So that is a
02:35moment to say, OK, I want to say proper goodbye to my people, you know, on Sunday. I want to
02:41hug them,
02:42all of them on the pitch. And that's why we announced them.
02:47Hi, Pep. So what do you want to do next?
02:51No, rest. No, no, no plans to training for a while. So need to, otherwise I will be here.
02:58And I need to step back. I will not train for a while.
03:03The club news release said you're going to become a global ambassador for the City Football
03:07Group. What does that mean? And does that, does that mean you might not be a manager again?
03:12No, when we talked together, when we talked together, I said, I want to,
03:16I would love to be, continue to be part of this club. So not a manager action. And I will
03:21not take
03:21absolutely zero decisions and that. It's just to be part of the club. If they need me to represent
03:26or do something in many, many clubs that this organization has, I will be there.
03:36I like still to be, you know, part of this club in a different role, completely different,
03:41not in the daily decisions, not in being in front of the sport lights,
03:45always behind the scenes, but I like to be part of that. Hi Pep. When Jurgen Klopp left,
03:52he said, I'm running out of energy. Is that a similar feeling that you have? Absolutely.
03:57Absolutely. I had, I have, I would not have. It's simple. I feel I would not have the energy that
04:04required to daily every three days, expectations to fight for the titles with being in front of the
04:10players. I know myself. I have that season energy, but I feel I would not have. It's just,
04:17what is the reason? It's the time. It's 10 years. So the biggest decision to have it happen is because
04:23it's a question of, not because I'm not ambition. I don't want to try it again. It's just,
04:29okay, Pep, after 10 years. So I'm seeing it's not good in organization, have people for many,
04:35many years. It's good to shake, to move, and new faces. It's really good for everyone.
04:39If I would not believe that, if they don't suck me, I want to stay here. But I think it's
04:43the,
04:44it's the perfect moment, the perfect time, much better than the last season, for example.
04:49And don't take for granted that season have been exceptional fighting against Arsenal.
04:54You know, this, this team until the last moment, winning two titles, the three English competition,
05:01win two and fight every game, let the team, the team do it. So that's really, really good.
05:09Can you just explain how much the job takes out of you? You know, the amount of traveling,
05:15the amount of games? No, no, they gave me everything. The job didn't take out anything. So it's my job.
05:18I know what it is and what's required. And I am, I'm, I was ready. I'm ready to, to enjoy
05:25that.
05:26But there's a moment that's it. So it's normal. So it's nothing special that the institutions have
05:34incredible health. So it's in a good position and, and everyone will push to continue to be there.
05:42Hi, Pep. When did you tell the players that you were definitely going to leave?
05:48Good morning. How did they react?
05:50The speech was a disaster. I was so nervous, more than ever. And, and yeah, I tell them like I'm
06:01telling all of you.
06:02Yeah. So the question that require that I have this passion energy that's always I had since a little boy,
06:09but now I feel that I won't have in the future.
06:12And I have to be honest, incredible myself, but especially for the, the club that gave me everything, but the
06:17people that rely on me incredibly.
06:20What state do you leave the squad and the club in leaving the club now as perhaps compared to the
06:27one that you inherited 10 years ago?
06:32Well, it was good in that moment. And it's good. Maybe it was better. But, uh, well, always I said,
06:40so with, uh, what I said before in the legacy.
06:43So I, I took, so 93, 20 seconds, that we're a goal is the biggest, biggest moment of this club.
06:51And that is legacy.
06:52I irritate that moment. So my players, the experience has been in with a letter with, uh, that, uh, many
06:59things, many, many entire players.
07:01And we have to continue to grow, grow, grow, grow. And that is what that the clubs must be.
07:05Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher don't always agree, but they do agree that you are the greatest manager of all
07:11time.
07:12Good. How does that sit with you?
07:15Take a beer with them?
07:18Harry, what do you think? Gary and Jamie deserve it?
07:22Yeah, United Liverpool fans.
07:26Listen, uh, honestly, I don't know. No, I don't know, honestly. So I know I had incredible success in my
07:34time as a manager.
07:35And it's nice, you know, to, to be there. So one of the biggest, biggest companies I had,
07:39I got a message for Alex Ferguson yesterday, two days ago, and that made me so happy.
07:44I got a message from Kevin today, from Manu Akanji was here. Uh, and that is the reason why, how,
07:53made me feel how happy and fortunate we are. So I am. So it's not important. It's this, this type
08:00of debates.
08:01I've been happy doing my job in Barcelona by Munich and here, and I did my best. I give everything.
08:08It's the last drop of my, my, my, you know, what I have. So, and that is, I'm, I'm, I'm
08:16living with incredible peace of my,
08:18you know, sense of peace of my soul that I give everything for, to this club, you know, in better
08:24position.
08:24And the people especially enjoy what, uh, what, uh, we have done this 10 years and many, many, many,
08:30but many, many people is involved in that. We've certainly enjoyed it. Thank you.
08:34Hi, Pat. It's, um, it's nine years ago.
08:37Today, since the arena attacking Manchester, um, you spoke in your farewell video about that
08:43and the strength that the people showed here at that point. Um, and also you referenced the
08:47Tony Walsh poem as well in, in that video. I just wonder what do the people and the spirit of
08:51Manchester mean to you?
08:53When you live 10 years here, you know, all the, all the corridors of the city, you know,
08:59in the good and the bad ones. Okay. It was important.
09:04Uh, Chris, the mother of my kids and my little daughter was in the arena in that moment. And,
09:09uh, they were lucky that other people was not and always every, every year. And today is the
09:14ninth anniversary. Always is present in my family a lot. So, and when you live 10 years, you are not
09:18just a part to, you know, at the stadium, CPA. So you are leaving the city, you know, the city,
09:23you try to
09:23ask, you know, my summer business every day with us. So, and that is what I, I will try as
09:29with a club reflect
09:30what means, you know, uh, my, my, my, my time, I, time. So it's not about, of course, when you
09:37win 20
09:37titles, it's because that's why you have been 10 years. So being manager, you have to win. Otherwise,
09:42it's like, and that's why I've been 10 years. But the part of that is not just that. So the
09:47phone call
09:47from Kevin means everything for me, everything, everything more than your status is nice here in
09:52the, in the, you know, the, to watch it, but these are the memories that you get and you have
10:00a lot.
10:01And I like, it's so special. And the club have announced today that the, the North stand is going
10:05to be renamed the Pep Guardiola stand. How does that make you feel? Oh God, no speechless, no words.
10:10So what can I say? Khaldun called me this morning and said that, uh, the club took that decision
10:17so no, when I say no words. So I like to feel that my vibe or my energy will be
10:25there forever.
10:26So I like that feeling in the bad moments when someone want to look down and sit back down and
10:30the peps. Okay. I will send good energy for the team, for the club is an incredible, maybe the huge
10:37honors
10:38I can, I can get. So just can say thank you so much to the club, to, to deliver to
10:45me and to my family
10:46with the name of my father that tomorrow will come on Sunday, we'll come when 94 years old,
10:51we'll come to watch the game. It's an incredible honor to have his name, you know, in this beautiful
10:55place. So the speeches now have no words.
11:01Hi Pep. Um, over the 10 years, you mentioned 20 trophies. What are you most proud of that you've
11:07achieved on the field? And what do you think you'll remember most in, in years to come?
11:11I don't know. It's a question for the people. Hopefully they enjoy watching us play.
11:16The moment was fun and the moment we played really, really good. Another one was not, but it's
11:20happened in 10 years, but, uh, all the trophies has been good. I would say the first primary league
11:24is important. You know, of course, I cannot deny the Champions League after many years,
11:29try to, you know, to be close, to be close, but all of them. So what I said before going
11:35to Wembley 24 times,
11:36I think that would define. There is one sentence now coming in my memory, talking with Noah Gallagher.
11:42I said one day years ago, many years ago, two years ago, so that we were a team that we
11:47were not able
11:47to win four games in a row. And now we are going four primaries in a row. So, and I
11:52said, wow,
11:53that is a good sentence. You know, that is maybe this club, since I think I would have to cover,
12:00make an incredible step, you know, to define what, uh, what has become and be part of that.
12:05So proud, so happy. Congratulations. Can you just share what Sir Alex Ferguson said to you in that
12:12text message, please? Well, with his Scottish accent, I struggled. I didn't, I didn't, uh, talk. It was,
12:22yeah, I need to, I will call him back for sure. Uh, right, congratulate for the, you know, for the
12:30trajectory, for, uh, what we achieve. It means a lot to me. Right. It's not to be humble enough that
12:36he's the greatest in this country. So the tenor of the times and, and, and, and for, for many,
12:43many reasons. And I'm so happy. Like, I miss a lot of Johan Cruyff, that who's not able to witness,
12:50you know, what we live. I'm happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest, could, I know. I'm pretty sure,
12:56sure Alex we are not, again, the Nazi neighbors. We are the neighbors, just the neighbors. So,
13:03and I'm happy that he was, he was there to watching us. I'm so happy. And when you came here
13:07on your first day, 10 days, sorry, 10 years ago, how long did you think you would last here at
13:13that
13:13point? And why did you think you stayed for so long? Not 10 years in, I said many times impossible.
13:18So I came for three years and said, let's see what happened. And the rest is history. I think if
13:24we
13:24continue, it's because we were comfortable both parts, you know, the club and myself,
13:29we were so comfortable to be into it. It helps me a lot. The Chiqui was here. The Farran was
13:34here.
13:35We met each other. So I was incredibly protected. The manager had been protected for the hierarchy.
13:39I've been incredibly protected. And, and of course, of course, the titles makes that you continue,
13:46but the support helps to win that titles that make you, you know, continue. So that related is so
13:55important. Hi, Pep. You obviously won 20 trophies, played amazing football, unbelievable sort of 80
14:01odd players. I think you've coached here. As important, is it what you leave the club,
14:07which is a squad that is young, it's on its way up, you know, it's got a very bright future.
14:11And also
14:12that how you've elevated the club to be at that, as you always used to say, always there at the
14:16end,
14:17you know, being there sort of competing, is that as important as all the trophies to sort of
14:20where you've taken the club to? Well, it helps. I think it's important to arrive in a, in a club,
14:26when the club, the standards are so, so high, because that is the level you have to do that is
14:32push each
14:32other. But the future must be win every training session, every single day, you know, the future will
14:40not be given. So you have to do it. And they will do it. I know the club and other
14:44people.
14:45Hi, Pep. You seem very clear-minded that now's the time. You said it's not good for people to be
14:51at
14:51the club for too long and 10 years is enough. But when you first kind of started to think that
14:57might
14:57be the case, was it a tougher decision than that? And since you decided up until now, did you ever
15:03think,
15:04actually, I could, I could stay? How have the emotions been over the last month or year or so?
15:09No, it's what I said before. When I took the decision, it's because this year has been made
15:13day to day for tomorrow. It's not a process that, you know, that don't require how, okay,
15:20you know, I have to breathe. And it's a natural, it's a natural situation. So we have a moment and
15:26after when I decide to start to say the club, okay, maybe you should, maybe it will be the last
15:33season.
15:33And the club say, Pep, take time, think about it. Maybe, okay, you can do it one more year and
15:38whatever. And after that, when there's a moment, I said, okay, it's the time that it's better,
15:43you know, to, to another energy come here. You said you're going to have a rest for quite a while.
15:49Do you think you're going to enjoy that rest or you're going to be like a Roy Hudson guy who
15:53just needs to
15:54manage and work? But listen, many, many people, when I started my closest people,
15:59when I said, okay, it will be my last season, I said, after three months, you will come back.
16:04I said, oh, maybe, but I need to prove it. I don't think so, to be honest. I would take
16:09a while,
16:10time, like, I would not. But, but I have to prove myself. And for that, I have to be.
16:16So it's not 10 years. I've been except half year in New York. I've been 70, 80 years,
16:22every three days, three days, three days, three days, you know, and, and the people demanding
16:27travels and travels and when the Premier League, you know, the Premier League, so the league is
16:30a disaster. It's, and I need to, you know, to breathe a little bit and, and relax. I will be,
16:37I'll be a white for a while. That is my feeling right now.
16:40So many more now for 10.30pm on Saturday evening.
16:42So.
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