Pep Guardiola says he needs to ‘rest’ after confirming Manchester City exit

• Pep Guardiola confirms he will leave Manchester City after Sunday’s final game
• Spaniard says he plans to take a break from football management
• Guardiola admits he no longer has the energy required to compete every three days

Pep Guardiola says he plans to step away from football management for “a while” after confirming he will leave Manchester City FC at the end of the season.

The 55-year-old announced on Friday that Sunday’s Premier League clash against Aston Villa FC will be his final game in charge at the Etihad Stadium, bringing an end to a hugely successful 10-year spell in Manchester.

Guardiola, who has been linked with several international coaching jobs in recent years, admitted he now needs time away from the demands of elite football.

“Now rest,” Guardiola said during his news conference on Friday.

“No plans to train for a while. Otherwise, I will be here. And I need to step back, I will not train for a while.”

The City manager also acknowledged that mental and emotional exhaustion had played a major role in his decision to walk away from the club.

When asked whether he felt similar to how Jurgen Klopp described himself before leaving Liverpool FC in 2024, Guardiola agreed immediately.

“Absolutely,” he said.

“I feel I will not have the energy that is required every three days to fight for titles, being in front of the players.

“I know, myself, I have that energy but I feel I will not have that. It’s been 10 years.

“The biggest decisions happen not because I don’t have that ambition or I don’t want to try it again but it’s the perfect moment and time.”

Guardiola informed his players of the decision on Friday morning, only days after City’s 1-1 draw against AFC Bournemouth officially handed the Premier League title to Arsenal FC.

Despite City winning both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup this season, the failure to reclaim the league title appears to have reinforced Guardiola’s belief that the time was right for a change.

He insisted the decision had not been sudden, explaining that he had been considering the possibility for some time.

“It’s not about when [the decision was made],” Guardiola said.

“It’s not today or tomorrow, it’s a time that you feel OK let’s do it.

“It’s not yesterday or one week ago. It’s a little bit but of course we are in competition and I need the players to be with me and me with them.

“The moment we cannot fight for anything else, that is the moment to say I want to say a proper goodbye to my people on Sunday.”

Guardiola will leave City as one of the most decorated managers in football history after transforming the club into one of Europe’s dominant forces during his decade in charge.