‘It’s Time to Go’- Pep Guardiola told to leave Manchester City 

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has been told to walk away from the Etihad by one of his closest and longest-serving allies, Carles Planchart, who believes the Spaniard needs a break to “regenerate” before taking on a new challenge.

Planchart, who worked alongside Guardiola for nearly two decades across Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City, said the 53-year-old has reached the end of a cycle and should “look for a new project” to rediscover his spark.

“It’s a personal decision he’ll have to make. I think a project should last five or six years, no more,” Planchart told SPORT.

“But not just for him for everyone. Afterward, you have to regenerate. As a friend, I’d tell him to look for a new project because he still has a long way to go.”

Guardiola’s contract runs until 2027, but the City manager has already hinted that he might take a long break — possibly as long as 15 years — once his spell at the Etihad ends.

According to Planchart, City has been the most comfortable chapter of Guardiola’s glittering managerial career.

“He’s stayed at City for so many years because they treated us like family,” he said. “They let us work freely, like we were at home. He didn’t feel that way at Barca or Bayern.”

But last season’s struggles, City finishing third in the Premier League after four consecutive title wins, have reignited questions about Guardiola’s motivation.

The Catalan tactician was repeatedly seen exhausted on the touchline, even joking after a chaotic 3–3 draw with Feyenoord that he “wanted to harm himself” — a comment he later apologised for.

Planchart said the underwhelming campaign was down to fatigue and dwindling energy within the squad and backroom staff.

“Sometimes you lack energy, and when you get into a bad dynamic, it’s hard,” he explained.
“In football, you always have to be at 100 percent. We had injuries, players near the end of their careers, and even staff members were drained. The lack of energy made it tough we just fought to make the Champions League, and losing the cup final was the punishment for a poor season.”

Describing Guardiola as “a football fanatic” whose genius lies in his ability to invent, not imitate, Planchart said the coach’s obsession with the game has kept him going for years but may now be taking its toll.

“He’s a creator. The difficult thing in life is creating, the rest of us just copy. He’s number one at this,” he added.

With growing talk of burnout and possible exits, Planchart’s words may be the clearest sign yet that Guardiola’s Manchester City era — defined by record-breaking success and footballing brilliance, could soon be nearing its end.