Guardiola Expresses Desire For International Management While Committed To Manchester City

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Pep Guardiola has expressed interest in managing at the international level, yet he remains committed to Manchester City for now. Over his 17-year managerial career, Guardiola has amassed 39 trophies, including three Champions League titles. At Manchester City alone, he has secured 15 trophies, notably achieving a treble in the 2022-23 season with victories in the Premier League, FA Cup, and their first Champions League.

Despite his impressive club success, Guardiola has not ventured into international management. He was linked to such roles in early 2024-25 before extending his contract with City for two more years. "I would love to be in a World Cup, in a Euro, a Copa America," Guardiola told Reuters. "I have always thought about it. But it depends on many, many things. If it happens, it's fine. If it doesn't happen, it's more than fine as well."

The previous season was challenging for Manchester City as they failed to secure any major trophies. They ended the Premier League campaign 13 points behind champions Liverpool and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace. Additionally, they were eliminated from both the Champions League and EFL Cup by Real Madrid and Tottenham respectively.

Guardiola's team finished third in the league standings after defeating Fulham on the final day. This marked only the second time in his top-flight managerial career that he finished outside of the top two positions. The other instance was during the 2016-17 Premier League season when City also placed third.

Following criticism over City's performance in 2024-25, Guardiola is eager to begin anew next season. His motivation is personal rather than proving critics wrong. "It's to prove myself that I can do it," he stated. "I don't want to have those feelings that last season left." He emphasised that winning enhances enjoyment and restfulness: "When we win, the wine tastes better afterwards; you sleep better."

A primary goal for City is securing another Champions League title after their maiden victory against Inter Milan in 2023. Although achieving this may be challenging, Guardiola recognises that even top athletes do not win every competition they enter.

Perspective on Winning

"I won 12 domestic leagues in 16 years," Guardiola noted. "It's not bad, I would say. But you cannot win all the time." He compared this reality with sports legends like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods who also experienced losses despite their successes.

Guardiola highlighted that Jordan won six NBA Championships over 15 years while Woods and Jack Nicklaus lost more Grand Slams than they won: "It happens." This perspective underscores his understanding of sports' competitive nature where consistent victories are rare even among elite athletes.