Guardiola angered by Manchester City exit leak before title-deciding Bournemouth draw

Pep Guardiola was reportedly furious that news of his expected Manchester City departure reached the media before the crucial Premier League match against Bournemouth, a result that ended City’s title hopes and confirmed Arsenal as champions.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was reportedly angered after information about his expected departure from the club appeared in the British media before City’s Premier League match against Bournemouth on May 19. According to The Sun, Guardiola was furious that the news leaked before such an important game and held a late-night meeting with his players to address the situation.

The timing of the leak made the story even more sensitive. City needed to beat Bournemouth to keep the Premier League title race alive until the final round, but the match ended 1-1. Bournemouth led through Eli Junior Kroupi before Erling Haaland equalised in stoppage time, but City could not find the winning goal. The result left Arsenal four points clear with one match remaining and confirmed the London club as English champions for the first time since 2004.

Guardiola did not publicly confirm his departure after the match, but he also did not deny the widespread reports. Speaking after the draw, he said he would first speak with Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak before making any announcement about whether he would complete the final year of his contract. AP reported that several British media outlets had claimed Guardiola was preparing to leave at the end of the season, with Enzo Maresca named as a leading candidate to replace him.

The Guardian also reported that Guardiola refused to comment directly on the expectation that his 10-year spell at City was coming to an end. He said public announcements during an active competition can have a negative effect, adding that the first person he needed to speak to was the club’s chairman. At the same time, he congratulated Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, saying they deserved to win the Premier League.

If Guardiola does leave, it would close one of the most successful managerial eras in English football. Since arriving at Manchester City in 2016, he has transformed the club’s playing style and trophy profile, winning six Premier League titles and leading City to the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble in 2022/23. AP also noted that City became the first English top-flight team to win four consecutive league titles under Guardiola.

For Manchester City, the leak created an unwanted distraction at the worst possible moment. The draw at Bournemouth not only ended their title defence, but also shifted attention toward the future of the club’s most influential manager. Until Guardiola or City issue a formal statement, the situation remains officially unresolved, but the scale of reporting suggests that the final match of the season could become a farewell moment for the coach who defined City’s modern era.