“I came for three years and said, ‘Let’s see what happens,’” said Pep Guardiola. “And the rest is history.” Come Sunday, it will be history: the 10 years, the 20 trophies, the records, the feats that mean he will go with a stand named after him and a statue commissioned to celebrate him. Guardiola is leaving Manchester City after Sunday’s game against Aston Villa. His 94-year-old father will be there; so, too, Ederson, the goalkeeper whose saves meant he won the Champions League in 2023. Suddenly, it is a time to reflect.
“It has been an experience maybe of my life,” said Guardiola. There will be one last match, without a Premier League title at stake but with more opportunity to soak it all in. I want to say proper goodbye to my people on Sunday. I want to hug them, all of them, on the pitch.”
