Guardiola: Don't Ask Me Why I'm Leaving

Departing Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has not specified a particular reason for his decision to step down. The former Barcelona boss leaves behind a remarkable legacy of 20 trophies, accumulated over the past ten seasons.

“What a time we’ve had together. Don’t ask me why I’m leaving. There’s no specific reason, but deep down, I know my time has come. Nothing lasts forever – if it did, I would stay here. What will last forever are the feelings, the people, the memories, the love I feel for my Manchester City,” Pep explained in his address to the fans.

According to the club, he will continue to work as an ambassador for the City Football Group, the company that owns the club.

“When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher (from Oasis – editor’s note). I left thinking: ‘Okay… Noel’s here? This is going to be fun,’ Guardiola continued.

This is a city built on hard work. On tough work. You see it in the color of the bricks. From people who started work early and stayed late. The factories. Pankhurst. The trade unions. The music. Just the Industrial Revolution and how it changed the world. And I think I started to understand that, and my teams did too.

We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our way. Our way.

Hard work takes many forms. The away trip to Bournemouth when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. The journeys to Istanbul, when you were with us there too.

Do you remember the attack at the Manchester Arena, when this city showed the world what strength truly looks like? Not anger. Not fear. But only love. Community. Unity. A city united as one.

Do you remember how I lost my mother during COVID and how this club helped me through it? The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester – you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my children, my whole family – you were by my side, as always. Khaldoon, you were there too.

The players don’t forget – every single second, every moment. Myself, my staff, this club – everything. What we did, we did for all of you. And you were simply incredible. You don’t realize it yet, but you are leaving a legacy.

So, as my time here comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back together.

Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me.

Thank you for challenging me.

Thank you for loving me.

Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem: ‘This is the place’. Sorry, Tony: this is my place.

Noel… I was right.

It was a hell of a lot of fun.

I love you all.”