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A former associate of Pep Guardiola has voiced concern that something is "not right" with the Manchester City boss, as uncertainty continues to surround his future at the club.
Guardiola is in the final stretch of his 10th season with City, having arrived in the summer of 2016. He had never previously stayed longer than four years at any club, including Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The 55-year-old Spaniard, who took a year-long break from football following the 2011–12 season, is contracted with City through the end of next season. However, many have speculated in recent months that he could depart a year before that contract expires. Whenever Guardiola does leave City—whether this year, next year, or further down the road—he has previously hinted at hanging up his managerial career.
Matthias Sammer has reservations about what lies immediately ahead.
"We had a wonderful working relationship for three years—it was truly exceptional. I believe I understood him quite well through his facial expressions, his gestures, his eyes, and his manner of speaking," said Sammer, who served as Bayern's sporting director during Guardiola's time in Munich, on his Sky Sport Germany podcast.
"My instinct tells me something is off when I look at his face. When I see your eyes, when I see your expression, and in other ways as well, you really don't need to justify yourself to those who don't understand what you are and who you are, and that you can't always come out on top. I would encourage him to take a step back and breathe."
Guardiola Remains 'Happy' at Man City
Despite mounting speculation that his tenure at Manchester City is drawing to a close, Guardiola has appeared increasingly insistent on emphasizing how content he remains at the club.
"I have a contract. I've said it a thousand, million times," he stated in January when rumors emerged that former assistant Enzo Maresca was being considered as his replacement. "It's been 10 years here, I will leave someday but I have a contract. I'm happy. I want to keep fighting with my team.
"The leadership respects me, and that was demonstrated last season with everything that happened at this club—we didn't win a single game for two or three months. They stood by me. I have one more year on my contract. I enjoy being here, so we'll see, you will see."
Just a couple of weeks prior, Guardiola had jokingly responded to similar questions by saying he would leave Manchester City at "75 or 76" years old—still some two decades away.
Champions League Motivation Could Fuel Guardiola Staying
The end of this season would not represent a graceful 'riding off into the sunset' moment for Guardiola.
City still have a chance to close out the campaign by completing a second domestic treble—Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup—under Guardiola's watch, following the first in 2018–19. The Carabao Cup has already been secured after last weekend's victory, and the FA Cup remains very much within reach, though the Premier League presents a far greater challenge given Arsenal's nine-point advantage with just eight matches remaining.
A domestic cup, or perhaps two—a relatively modest achievement for a club with City's remarkable record of success over the past 15 years—appears to be the most realistic outcome.
The Champions League, the most coveted prize in club football, is already out of reach. Had City, who were convincingly eliminated by long-standing rivals Real Madrid in the round of 16, claimed a second European title in four seasons, it would have been far easier to picture Guardiola stepping away this summer on the highest of notes.
Instead, he will take another shot at it next season and is more likely to reassess his future at that point.