Pep Guardiola is being tipped to leave Manchester City this summer by Dietmar Hamann, who has also named who he thinks should be the top candidate to take over
Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes Pep Guardiola could walk out on the club this summer because he appears to be running out of patience with the job. And the outspoken German pundit reckons Guardiola only signed his contract extension last year to bring stability to City at a time of uncertainty because of their 115 charges for alleged breaches of the Premier League ’s financial rules.
City are set to relinquish their grip on the trophy and instead have just a top-five finish to play for following a shock season in which Guardiola’s squad have struggled for form and fitness.
“Well, when he signed the contract extension, I think that the contract was signed to calm things down and just bring a bit of stability into the club, because it was really needed at the time because of the 115 charges that the Premier League brought against City,” Hamann said.
“You know, he’s been there a long time. The people in charge of the football club are the same people that were running Barcelona when he was there, so they are not only colleagues, they’re friends and I’m sure if he wants to go, they would find a solution. When I look at Pep this season, I’m not sure whether he’s got [patience or energy] at the moment.
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“It’s a very testing job, being a Premier League manager. You have to transfer that fire from the manager to the players and make them believe they can win everything again. I’m not sure he can do that.
“I said that a few months ago. I’m not sure how far that time is where he says to himself, maybe somebody else is better equipped for the job. I’d be surprised if he’s still the manager next season, regardless of where they finish.”
Hamann, speaking to Best Betting Sites, also reckons Guardiola will be eager to have a say in who his successor is when the time finally arrives and the current Brighton and Hove Albion boss Fabian Hurzeler appears a good fit.
“I would like to think that if Pep Guardiola does go that he will have quite a big say,” Hamann continued. “They will certainly ask who he thinks is a manager for Manchester City.
“If you look at the Premier League, obviously the Brighton manager has been doing well, even though he’s dropped off for a bit, but they seem to have come back again. Whoever follows Guardiola, it doesn’t matter which manager, it will be almost impossible to replicate.”
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