5 issues he should deal with

Pep Guardiola is ready to increase his keep at Manchester Metropolis however it could possibly be a turbulent interval with numerous excellent points to handle for each supervisor and membership.

Guardiola, if experiences are to be believed, has agreed a 12-month extension to the contract that expires on the finish of the season with the choice for an extra 12 months on the Etihad Stadium.

The previous Barcelona boss has received all of it with Metropolis, lifting 18 trophies, together with six Premier League crowns, however his closing chapter could possibly be essentially the most difficult.

Right here, we take a look at what the Catalan must deal with over that interval.

Mindset 🧠🍿 pic.twitter.com/xzAxZEoRdX

— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) November 18, 2024

The repercussions if Metropolis are discovered responsible of economic misdemeanours

The elephant within the room.

Metropolis have been charged with 115 breaches of economic guidelines and an impartial listening to is underway. The membership have constantly maintained their innocence and Guardiola has repeatedly stated the media shouldn’t pre-judge the end result.

Regardless of the verdict, Guardiola could have inquiries to reply because the de facto figurehead of the membership.

If they’re discovered to have breached laws then the autumn out could possibly be seismic, each for the membership and the sport.

Remaining on prime of English soccer

He has achieved a lot at Metropolis, Guardiola might be decided to exit on a excessive. Not profitable the league in his closing season, now more likely to be 2025-26, can be anti-climactic.

Liverpool seem to have discovered a brand new self-assurance underneath Arne Slot, Arsenal are more likely to get stronger underneath Mikel Arteta and, whereas they appear a way off for the time being, Manchester United might get a major carry from the arrival of Ruben Amorim.

The hole between Metropolis and the remainder already appears to have shrunk, as evidenced by the very fact they path Liverpool by 5 factors this season and are on an uncharacteristic run of 4 successive defeats.

An ageing squad

Metropolis’s success underneath Guardiola has been constructed across the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan and Kyle Walker.

All 4 at the moment are the improper aspect of 30 and makes an attempt to decrease the age of the squad has produced combined outcomes. Erling Haaland is the apparent success however Matheus Nunes, Savinho and Jeremy Doku have struggled to make an impression.

De Bruyne’s contract expires on the finish of the season, as does Gundogan’s, with Silva, Walker, Ederson and John Stones’ offers up in 2026.

They’re massive holes to fill ought to Metropolis determine to maneuver them on.

Working with Hugo Viana

Guardiola’s partnership with Txiki Begiristain has been pivotal to his success in Spain and England with the Metropolis boss admitting “part of me is leaving too” when it was introduced the membership’s director of soccer will go away on the finish of the season.

It’s possible Guardiola had a say in deciding on his alternative – Sporting CP’s Hugo Viana – however their working relationship must develop shortly if Metropolis are to stay forward of the pack.

Plans for the 2025 summer season window will already be superior however Begiristain’s departure is undoubtedly a blow.

His plans on the finish of the 2025-26 season

Assuming he does simply keep for an extra 12 months, Guardiola will stroll away on the eve of the 2026 World Cup.

And given he has said beforehand his need to provide worldwide administration a crack, he might be properly positioned given there may be often churn following a significant match.

He’ll undoubtedly need a prolonged break after an intense spell within the Premier League however it’s possible a number of nations can be keen to attend.

Brazil have been a long-time admirer and what about England…?