Pep Guardiola admits ‘difficult decisions’ to be taken over ‘adored’ Manchester City long-serving stars | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has admitted that it is becoming increasingly difficult to make decisions over some of his most ‘adored’ long-serving stars.

The ongoing season across competitions has arguably been Manchester City’s most challenging campaign under the Catalan coach since his arrival at the club back during the summer of 2016.

Pep Guardiola’s opening season brought about no silverware as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach battled with installing his footballing philosophy and overhauling an ageing playing squad left behind by Manuel Pellegrini.

And a similar situation now faces Guardiola and his Manchester City colleagues as they look to welcome in a new generation of their playing squad from the start of next season, almost writing off the ongoing campaign as one to forget and simply “survive”.

But with that comes some difficult decisions as Etihad Stadium bosses will almost certainly have to bid farewell to some of the most recognisable and successful players in the history of the football club due to their age and contractual situations.

Speaking during a new conversation with English football managerial icon Neil Warnock for Sky Sports over the weekend, Pep Guardiola admitted that he feels a need to be entirely ‘honest’ with a club he ‘adores’, particularly over players as part of an ongoing rebuild.

“I don’t extend a contract one more year, one more year. I want to have a long contract, I want to be honest with the job, the club that I adore and I love right now, with the players,” Guardiola said.

“It’s so difficult after eight or nine years to take decisions with players that have given you everything, not just everything but beyond!

“The affections are there, you are attached, there are feelings. We lived good and exceptional moments, bad moments too.”

The Catalan coach continued, “And every season has been tougher, and tougher, and tougher because they gave me everything. People say, ‘Oh Pep how good?!’ No, no the players gave everything to us, to have a job, and to deliver ideas we have. I’m beyond grateful!”

Among the players that could come under the microscope this summer is Kevin De Bruyne, who is approaching the natural conclusion of his existing Manchester City contract with no talks over an extension currently in sight.

Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gundogan, and Mateo Kovacic make up other names that could be assessed by the club for potential exits depending on the opportunities that become available for them in the market.

And with that would also come further investment into the Manchester City midfield ranks, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz believed to be a priority target for Etihad bosses, despite strong competition from the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid for his signature.