Pep Guardiola spoke to the media ahead of tomorrow’s highly anticipated Community Shield match against Manchester United, touching on various topics including the departure of Julián Álvarez, Manchester City’s plans for a replacement, and his own future in management.
Guardiola confirmed that Julián Alvarez will be leaving Manchester City, with a move to Atlético Madrid imminent. Reflecting on Alvarez’s time at the club, Guardiola expressed his appreciation for the Argentine forward’s contributions. “First of all, I want to say my gratitude for Julian, we won everything, his contribution has been massive. He was incredibly loved by the team for his behavior but if he wants to leave, a new challenge… Atlético is a top club,” Guardiola said. He added, “If you want to leave it’s OK. We wish him the best. I learned a lot from him, hopefully he can find what he was looking for.”
Pep Guardiola asked if #ManCity will sign a replacement for Julian Alvarez: “We will see, I don’t know!” 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/fIqHAfR8w7
— City Report (@cityreport_) August 9, 2024
When asked if Manchester City would be seeking a replacement for Alvarez, Guardiola was non-committal. “We will see, I don’t know!” he responded, leaving the door open to potential transfer activity but not committing to any immediate action.
Turning his focus to the upcoming Community Shield clash, the Spaniard emphasized the significance of the game, describing it as “a final” for Manchester City. He acknowledged the importance of the match not just as a trophy, but also as a valuable experience for the younger players in the squad. “It’s important, it’s a final for us, we’ll see how young players react to being on a big stage. We’ve tried to give the players a lot of rest” Guardiola noted, highlighting the balance between preparation and recovery.
Guardiola also addressed questions about his future, particularly the possibility of taking on the England national team job. He admitted that he’s considering his options, saying, “I have to decide what I want to do with my life. I could stay here, take a break, national team… but right now I am here and fully excited for the season!”