Josep Maria Orobitg, who is Pep Guardiola’s agent, has claimed that his client is “going to stay at Manchester City 100%.” This affirmation comes after yet another embarrassing European result for the Catalan in his reigns as City manager. Pep has failed to advance past the last-eight in his four years at the helm of affairs.
While Barcelona might have been Pep’s most productive job, his agent doesn’t expect a reunion anytime soon as confirmed in an interview with Goal: “Yes, Pep will stay at City 100 per cent.” Orobitg when on to say that it is “currently impossible” for a return to Barcelona to be considered by his client.
Guardiola enjoyed a successful tenure as Barcelona head coach. He won 14 trophies in his four years in charge including a sextuple in his first season. After losing the league to Jose Mourinho’s Madrid and the Champions League to Chelsea in 2012, he left the club. Pep took a one-year sabbatical before joining Bayern Munich in 2013.
Expectedly, he delivered for the Bavarians on the domestic front as he won the Bundesliga thrice breaking numerous records in the process. However, he fell at the semifinal hurdle three consecutive times in the Champions League to Spanish opponents.
He took over from Manuel Pellegrini in the summer of 2016 after leaving Germany and had a dismal debut season where he finished 3rd which is his lowest league position till date. Pep and City came back stronger in the following season where they romped to the title, finishing above their nearest challengers by 19 points. The title was retained the following season albeit this time, Liverpool gave them a run for their money finishing just a point behind them. City also won a domestic treble that season.
Signs that Klopp was catching up with his counterpart were evident and the inevitable finally happened. Liverpool cruised to the title in the just-concluded season, finishing 18 above City. Pep may, however, take solace in the Carabao Cup that his side won just before lockdown.
Despite this, Pep is expected to remain as City boss except if something drastic happens. Given the current state of Barcelona, it is understandable why a move back may not be all too appealing. The Spanish giants are currently in a mess on and off the pitch. An 8-2 mauling by Bayern coupled with issues among the club hierarchy summarizes how sour things currently are at the Camp Nou. Pep will go into next season with only one mission which is righting the wrongs of the current campaign.
