Manchester City reportedly have a replacement lined up for a manager who may not be going anywhere

“I can imagine when a team is not relegated, this kind of stuff, it changes clubs, the players, financially you can’t do investment for good players. At the end, it’s the reason why the team has success, because they have good players.”

“But this season, we won the Carabao Cup, Final of the FA Cup again, still fighting against this Arsenal. So what can I say? It’s really good. I’d love to go through in the Champions League, but the level is higher and it’ll be good learnings for me for the next season.”

My thoughts on the situation with Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca.

It isn’t a surprise to learn that Manchester City have put plans in place in case Pep Guardiola does depart the club imminently. An organisation such as City will not want to be caught off guard if their manager walks away. The fact that City have sounded out Enzo Maresca shows that they have plans in place. However, it isn’t an indication that Pep Guardiola is set to walk away imminently.

For the longest time, my personal belief is that Pep Guardiola doesn’t seem to be a manager who seems set to walk away imminently. Guardiola seems fully invested in the journey he is on with his new-look team. His team has taken giant strides this season, especially recently. Guardiola seems reinvigorated and up for leading this team to glory. Also, he made a point of saying what lessons he can from Manchester City’s disappointing Champions League campaign that he can carry into next season. That doesn’t sound like a manager who seems ready to walk off into the sunset.

Manchester City has a contingency plan in place if Pep Guardiola departs the club. Enzo Maresca is seemingly Manchester City’s choice to succeed Pep Guardiola. However, it doesn’t seem that Guardiola is a manager who is ready to walk away from his post. His answer about planning for next season’s Champions League seems to be his most revealing yet.