“Man City even has a ready replacement for Pep Guardiola if the Spanish manager chooses to leave Etihad. Pep Guardiola has proven to be one of the top coaches in the world. Last season, he led Man City to an impressive treble (Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League), becoming the second English team after Manchester United to achieve this.
Man City is said to have a ‘ready’ successor if Pep Guardiola chooses to leave Etihad. Both Man City and Girona, managed by coach Michel Sanchez, are owned by the City Football Group.
However, no matter how much they want and admire Pep Guardiola, he cannot stay at Etihad forever. It is believed that the former Barcelona manager may say goodbye when his contract with Man City ends in 2025.
Furthermore, Pep Guardiola could leave earlier if Man City is found to have violated financial fair play regulations. Everton being deducted 10 points serves as a major warning for the Sky Blues.
Nevertheless, even if Pep Guardiola decides to leave, Man City may have found an ideal replacement in Michel Sanchez, who currently leads Girona, sitting at the top of La Liga table, two points ahead of Real Madrid and four points ahead of Barcelona.
Girona’s sporting director, Quique Carcel, believes that Michel Sanchez has the ability to succeed Guardiola at Etihad.
“Sanchez has enough talent to lead a big club like Man City, just a little more time to gain experience will be enough. Man City plays the kind of football that Michel Sanchez is doing with Girona. However, the pressure on the hot seat at Man City will be completely different from that at Girona.”
Girona midfielder Aleix Garcia revealed that their coach Sanchez has had “many contacts” with Guardiola through the City Football Group, which owns both Man City and Girona.
“Pep Guardiola is talented and fantastic, everyone knows that. Coach Michel Sanchez tries to contact Pep to learn from him. Pep Guardiola is truly a master of tactics.””