City chiefs’ planning meeting bodes well for future with Pep
PEP Guardiola must enjoy the offseason, as he has a chance to go about his business without multiple press conferences or interviews every week that often return to the same topic. His future.
Guardiola will enter the final year of his City contract when the new season begins, and he has insisted he will discuss a new deal when the time is right.
He has expressed a desire to stay, but also wouldn’t want to outstay his welcome or remain in charge when his vision wasn’t aligned with the club.
Now, after meeting with owner Sheikh Mansour and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Guardiola will at least be much clearer on where the club stand moving forward, which can only give him clarity needed to decide if he wants to challenge for an eighth season in charge.
Guardiola seems to have a good working relationship with the people that matter most at the Etihad, with the club backing him in the transfer market and building an environment that will let him thrive.
Because he’s rewarded that backing with plenty of trophies, the calmness Guardiola portrays when discussing his future is entirely believable.
Al Mubarak backed that up last week, saying: “It is a partnership that has done wonders in years. It is approaching its seventh year and next year is going to be an exciting chapter of his partnership and we’re enjoying every moment of it.
“We’re achieving great things together and this conversation will be had at the right time, at the right pace, and with the pace, time and framework that works for Pep.”
Having such a conversation would make sense in the summer, without the pressures of a busy fixture schedule and with time to address any concerns in the transfer market.
So when owner Sheikh Mansour shared pictures of their planning meeting, City fans were naturally excited to see the three most important people at the club in discussions about the future. “The meeting came in the wake of the club’s recent victory in the English Premier League, and to discuss plans for the next season 2022/2023,” read a Tweet on Sheikh Mansour’s account. Fans will be hoping that Guardiola’s future was also discussed.
And even if it wasn’t, Guardiola will surely be far clearer of what his owner’s plans are for City in the next year and beyond. A congratulatory Tweet from the Sheikh after the end of the season spoke of a ‘distinguished team,’ with a worldwide impact, suggesting he remains committed to the City cause.