Enzo Maresca (left) previously served as an assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola has stated Manchester City “must be prepared” to plan for his eventual departure and identify a successor, while affirming his commitment to the club in the near term.
Reports indicate that Manchester City has initiated the process of scouting potential replacements for the Spanish manager, acknowledging uncertainty regarding his tenure beyond the current season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, formerly an assistant under Guardiola at City, has dismissed speculation linking him to the Manchester City job as “100% speculation.”
Guardiola signed a contract extension in November 2024, committing him to the club until the conclusion of the 2026-27 season.
Speaking on Friday, he said: “I’m happy here, I want to stay here. What can I say? Always results decide.
“When it is the [end of the] chapter the club will choose the best one to continue this incredible period in Man City.
“There have been rumours in the last years many, many times but I want to stay here. At the end of the season, we’ll see.”
City, currently trailing Premier League leaders Arsenal by two points, will face West Ham on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Manchester City experienced a comparatively lackluster 2024-25 season, failing to secure any major domestic trophies for the first time since 2016–17.
However, Guardiola seems invigorated by the challenge of competing on multiple fronts this term, particularly following a summer squad overhaul.
“I’m excited because there is a margin to improve, to do it better. That is what I like,” he said.
“Last season was a really, really tough season and I didn’t give up and I was there. This season is much better in terms of many things I’m seeing and still I’m here.
“It depends on my feelings and my feeling right now is good. That’s why I want to continue.
“It’s going to change? Maybe, I don’t know. But what I’m feeling now is not [that]. What I’m feeling now is with the players I want to continue as much, and as long, as possible.”
Since his arrival in 2016, Guardiola has guided City to 15 major titles, excluding the Community Shield, adding to his impressive track record at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
Instead of setting a firm timeline for his potential departure, he suggested that his future hinges on maintaining the team’s competitiveness at the highest level.
“In the Champions League we are fourth with two games left, in the Premier League we are [up] there and [we have] the Carabao Cup semi-final. That is what motivated me to wake up early this morning,” Guardiola said.
“I have to visualise the team being better. When we’re more solid, creating more chances and conceding less – and winning games, winning games, winning games. That is the business. That is the main reason.
“The moment I feel that it is done and with the players I cannot squeeze more – or I can’t visualise how we could do better – then I will go home. Still I have the feeling.”
When pressed on whether he will be at City next season, Guardiola added: “I answered that question before. I am here. What’s going to happen, who knows, but if I have 10 years on my contract or six months, football changes a lot.
“There are no discussions – end of the subject. There are no discussions. I will not be here eternally, but I’ve said before I will not be here forever.”
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Maresca assumed the role of Chelsea boss in June 2024, with a contract extending until 2029, including an option for an additional season.
In response to reports linking him with a potential move to City, the Italian manager stated: “It doesn’t affect me at all because I know that is 100% speculation. And at this moment, there is no time for these kind of things.
“First of all, because I have a contract here until 2029 probably. And my focus, I said many times, is just about this club and I’m very proud to be here. But again, it’s speculation. One week ago I was in Italy, the same with Juventus. So I don’t pay attention because I know that is not true.
“It’s important to understand why this news was there but it is just speculation.”
Chelsea, currently fourth in the league, will face Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday at 12:30.
Maresca’s remarks follow his earlier statement that “many people” caused his “worst 48 hours” since joining Chelsea after a 2-0 victory against Everton last weekend.
Those remarks ignited speculation regarding a potential disagreement between the manager, controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, and sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart.
When asked if he had spoken to those key figures, Maresca said: “We are in the same building, so we speak about different things. But about the Everton press conference, no.”
Maresca then replied “absolutely, yes” when asked if he would remain at the club next season, and he also urged fans to “continue to support the team”.
There was some positive news for Chelsea when Maresca revealed forwards Liam Delap (shoulder) and Estevao Willian (muscle) could return earlier than expected to face Aston Villa on 27 December.
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‘I will not be eternal here’
Senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel
The anticipation of a potential change at Manchester City has prompted the club to commence its search for potential successors to Guardiola.
Reports indicate that at least two candidates have been identified, although their identities remain undisclosed at this time.
BBC Sport understands that potential new signings are also aware of the possibility of Guardiola leaving at the end of the season.
The club’s sporting director Hugo Viana, who arrived earlier this year, is playing a key role in compiling the shortlist of managers in the event of Guardiola departing.
A final decision on whether he sees out the contract is not expected until towards the end of this season.
While clubs will generally have succession and contingency plans in place for the event of managerial changes, the uncertainty over Guardiola’s future has put City’s due diligence into sharper focus.
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Maresca on Man City links
Chelsea reporter Nizaar Kinsella
The discord between Maresca and Chelsea’s leadership remains a sensitive issue.
While there has been no escalation of the Italian’s initial comments, neither apologies nor resolutions have been forthcoming.
The atmosphere at these press conferences has become strained, raising concerns that it could negatively impact what has been a relatively positive start to the season.
Chelsea currently occupy fourth place in the Premier League, have advanced to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup, and could potentially bypass the Champions League play-off round by winning their final two group stage matches.
The question remains whether this uncertainty could affect a squad that was beginning to find its rhythm.
Currently, Maresca is the only individual obligated to address the media, as Premier League manager. There is no requirement for the ownership or senior figures at Stamford Bridge to comment, which creates an environment of ambiguity and allows speculation to proliferate.
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