Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has disclosed that Pep Guardiola threatened to quit “100 times” during his decade-long tenure.
Guardiola’s final departure from the club occurred after a historic run that yielded 20 major trophies, including six Premier League titles.
The decision for him to step down eventually became real following a highly emotionally taxing season. During down periods throughout his decade in charge, Guardiola frequently expressed a desire to stop coaching, take an extended break, and embrace a quiet life.
Read Also:Arsenal Agree Personal Terms With Winger
“Inevitably over these last 10 years we’ve had a lot of ups and some downs, and in the downs, he must have quit 100 times over these 10 years, just so you know, just for the record,” he told City’s media channels on Thursday.
“There’s the story as you all know, The Boy that Cries Wolf. In the case of Pep, when he says ‘I quit’, it doesn’t mean he’s quitting. You don’t take it that seriously – you have to manage him.
“Whenever he quits or whenever he thinks it’s time, I will always convince him to come back, until the time where I know it’s actually the real time – and we reached that. I knew it and that’s why I didn’t fight it.
“We are far from peaked. We are used to – because it’s in our DNA – winning. This is a club that is designed, built to win.
“Obviously with the additions we’re going to make this summer, I am very confident. I think next year we’re going to come back very strong.”
Read Also:Chelsea Name Price For Cucurella As La Liga Giant Set To Open Talks
Guardiola won 20 trophies with City, including the FA Cup and League Cup in his farewell season.
Asked about City’s managerial succession plan, Khaldoon said: “What I can say at the moment is we’ve gone through a very thoughtful and structured process and the team is convinced, I am convinced, that we will bring in the right manager for this club.
“Just be patient with us. Very soon we’ll announce it and you will be very comfortable that we have selected and brought in the best manager possible.”
