Manchester City began their title defense with a comfortable 2-0 victory away to Chelsea. Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and Mateo Kovacic sealed the win with a goal in the 84th minute. It has been revealed that the club owners have set a deadline for Pep Guardiola to make a final decision on whether he will leave at the end of the current season or stay at the Etihad Stadium. According to Sky Sports, the Spanish manager is expected to announce his decision before Christmas.
🚨🚨| Manchester City want manager Pep Guardiola to decide on whether he will sign a new contract with the club by Christmas. The Spaniard's current deal runs until 2025.
[@SkySportsNews] pic.twitter.com/vc8XXiBjAW
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) August 19, 2024
Guardiola has entered the final year of his contract with the club, and at the end of last season, the 53-year-old hinted that he was closer to leaving than staying. The club is, of course, prepared to offer him a new contract, but if that does not happen, the management wants to have enough time to find the most suitable successor. In recent weeks, rumours in England have intensified that Guardiola could become the next permanent manager of the England national team.
In other news related to Manchester City, Ilkay Gundogan has been linked with a sensational return to the club. The midfielder is reportedly ready to leave Barcelona, but his next destination still remains uncertain.