Pep Guardiola invited Manchester City fans to “come to me and hug me” if they see him in the future after ending his 10-year stint at the club this afternoon.
Guardiola’s remarkable decade of success that saw the club win 20 major trophies came to a slightly anti-climatic end with a 2-1 defeat at home to Aston Villa but it did not have any major effect as City honoured the Catalan – and departing players Bernardo Silva and John Stones – at the final whistle.
Ollie Watkins scored twice for Villa to hand the Europa League winners an impressive victory after Antoine Semenyo had put the home side ahead.
After the final whistle, an emotional Guardiola paid tribute the City fans, saying: “I’m so nervous right now. Why do you love me so much? Why do you do that to me?
“I never imagined the amount of love, it has been an incredible, tremendous honour to be your manager for 10 years. Incredible emotions.”
Guardiola thanks Manchester City for stand honour
City announced on Friday that they would be naming the newly expanded North Stand in Guardiola’s honour and he reiterated how special that was for him and his family.
He added: “My dad is here today in the stands, 95 years old – wow! Maybe he doesn’t realise but I’m pretty sure in many years this stand that looks really beautiful, the name of my family will be there. That is the hugest honour.
“It is an immense honour my family will have for the rest of my life. The players don’t know it, but I will be up there [in the Pep Guardiola Stand] controlling them! The players have a huge responsibility to continue these standards – hopefully they fight and fight and fight. This is my home.
“In the next years, if you see me in the streets in the States or Europe or somewhere and you are a Man City fan, come to me and hug me. I will need it.”
“It has been a huge honour to represent this club. Every decision I took I thought was the best for this club. I love you so much. It has been fun.”
Speaking to Sky Sports, Guardiola added: “Our time was good. Thank you to all the people, the new stand is beautiful.
“Bernardo was emotional today, before the game, if you want to cry then cry, laugh then laugh. Emotions – you have to express them. I don’t cry, but when I see somebody else cry, then I cry!
“This chapter will always be there. Many memories – forget the titles, it’s the memories. All of us. All the people here are extraordinary. Life is made of periods, we lived an incredible period. If I had energy I would stay here. [But] a new person has to do this job.”
New Manchester City boss has to be his own man, says Guardiola
Enzo Maresca is favourite to replace Guardiola but the outgoing boss urged whoever takes over to be their own person.
“The [new] manager has to be themselves, that’s the most important thing,” he said. “The way they communicate, the way they play, they have to be them. This club is good at many things, and they do transitions really well. It will be good.
“You can win many titles, but the connection with the city and the people you work with… if you are not comfortable with people you work with, you do not stay for 10 years.”
City ended the season in second place, seven points behind Arsenal, but did win both the FA and EFL Cups.
