07 December 2023 , 00:41
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Pep Guardiola admits he could “retire” amid Manchester City’s stuttering title defence.
The Spaniard has overseen an unprecedented period of success at the Etihad Stadium since his arrival in 2016. He has won five Premier League titles - the most recent of which accounted for one part of last season’s historic treble.
Ahead of his side’s midweek trip to Aston Villa, Guardiola claimed he could end his managerial career should City repeat the feat. Speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss said: “If we win the treble this season, I'll retire.
“That's for sure. I know it is extremely difficult, how many incredible teams have been in England and just one with Sir Alex Ferguson has done it and ourselves last season.
“When we spoke, prepare well for the first game and how we try to do it and then the second and now the third. We will see our level and the competition itself dictates your level, the opponent dictates, the challenge is higher but in September, October, November, thinking about the title, forget about it.”
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Guardiola and City’s hopes of claiming another treble were hit with a major blow at Villa Park. Leon Bailey’s strike condemned them to defeat.
It now means that they have not won in the Premier League in over a month. Guardiola’s side now sit fourth and six points behind current leaders Arsenal following their dramatic late victory over Luton.
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“The better team won,” the City manager admitted after the defeat to Villa. “I said to the players: ‘In football, this happens. I know you wanted to win, I know you tried, because you have proved to me and everyone many, many times.’
“Now the results are not so good when they always were [previously]. I have to think about it. I have to sleep, to reflect, I have to see the games, how the players [did] with this one and try to do it.
“It was really difficult because they are really physical and able to control many aspects. That is the reason why they are up there, playing good football and we could not do it.
“It’s my duty, my job to find a way to come back from the situation because over many years together we were able to find a way to play games – sometimes playing good, sometimes not but always we found a way to do it – and now we are struggling. We have to change the dynamic.”
City are back in action this weekend as they travel to Kenilworth Road for a clash against Luton. They take on Crvena Zvezda in their final Champions League group game before a clash with Crystal Palace.