The case for Pep Guardiola to stay at Manchester City
“As Real Madrid edged nearer and nearer to knocking Manchester City out of the Champions League on Tuesday, their travelling supporters revelled in the moment with a sarcastic chant aimed at someone who has long been one of their biggest rivals. ‘Guardiola, quedate,’ they sang. ‘Guardiola, stay.’ It taps into an idea not only that Pep Guardiola will be leaving the Etihad Stadium at the end of this season, but that it would be a good thing for City if he did. There will inevitably be questions about the former Barcelona manager’s future following City’s 5-1 aggregate defeat, one that sees them knocked out at the round-of-16 stage after the tie was essentially settled after the first leg. Madrid’s 3-0 victory at the Bernabeu last Wednesday, where Guardiola picked an uncharacteristically attacking line-up, saw him “massacred”, as he put it. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)