Earlier this week we reported on Pep Guardiola's farewell turning into Enzo Maresca's handover at Manchester City. The new part of the story is less tidy. City have now confirmed that five members of Guardiola's backroom staff have left with him, while reports are already putting Rúben Dias and Kalvin Phillips into the first wave of uncertainty around the squad.

The scale of change is already wider than the dugout

The most concrete development is the staffing. Manchester City confirmed that five members of Guardiola's backroom staff have gone alongside him, a clear sign that this is not just a head-coach swap.

In a club statement carried by standard.co.uk, City said: "Everyone at City would like to thank all five members of staff for their hard work and dedication and wish them the very best of luck in the future."

That matters because Guardiola's departure has come with a proper structural shake-up, not just a ceremonial goodbye. His 10-year spell at City ended after a 2-1 home defeat by Aston Villa, and the end of that cycle now looks even sharper with so many staff moving on at once.

One detail that stands out is Pep Lijnders. He only joined City last summer and had previously spent 10 years as Jurgen Klopp's assistant at Liverpool. When a club loses that kind of experience, even after only a year on site, the transition becomes harder to frame as simple continuity.

There is still respect around Guardiola's influence, of course. Erling Haaland described him as "A coach who never stopped teaching" and added: "That mentality changed this club forever and changed me too. The honour of a lifetime to work with the best. Thank you for everything, boss."

The issue for City now is that sentiment does not soften the practical disruption. They finished second in the Premier League with 78 points, and their closing league sequence was DWWDW. That is a decent finish by normal standards, but it is not the kind of run that suppresses questions when a manager of Guardiola's weight walks away.

Why Rúben Dias is the name to watch first

The most striking player angle is Dias. Reports say he is unsettled after Guardiola's departure and has instructed his agent to explore options away from City.

That still needs to be handled carefully. There is no confirmation from the club or the player that an exit is happening. But he is not being linked away because he has drifted out of the picture. The verified numbers in the brief show 26 Premier League appearances and 7 Champions League appearances this season, so this is a regular first-team defender, not a squad spare part.

His domestic rating of 7.17 also supports that point. If City do end up dealing with serious interest around him, it would be about uncertainty after Guardiola rather than obvious decline in his level.

One recent number adds to that. Dias posted an 8.2 Premier League rating against Chelsea, which backs up the idea that he is still capable of top-end performances. That is why the noise around him lands differently from routine summer gossip.

There is reported valuation talk too. Outlets have put him at around €60 million with a contract running until 2029, but that should be treated as reported pricing rather than a fixed fee. Right now the stronger point is simpler: a key starter is being discussed as unsettled at the exact moment City are losing Guardiola and five staff members.

Phillips still looks like a separate problem

Kalvin Phillips sits in a different category. His future is uncertain too, but for less surprising reasons.

Sheffield Utd are interested in bringing him back and could pursue another loan. Chris Wilder told goal.com: "He'll have a lot of people still after him. We've brought a really good pro in. He was unlucky with his injury and he's not played as much as he wanted to play. I spoke to him and said that we'd love to be an option for you, your agent and your parent club if that is a possibility."

The numbers around Phillips are stark. The verified stats pack only supports 1 Manchester City appearance in the 2025 season and 10 minutes played. One report referenced 32 appearances across all competitions since his move from Leeds United in 2022, but that broader total is not the verified measure available here, so the safer reading is that his current City role is minimal.

That is why Guardiola's exit may not change much for him. With Dias, the uncertainty is notable because he has remained central on the pitch. With Phillips, the uncertainty is notable because he has not.

This is the early shape of City's summer: a manager gone, five staff gone with him, and questions around two very different players for two very different reasons. The handover story is still there, but the new reality is that Manchester City are already dealing with the disruption that follows it.

FAQ

Why are Manchester City facing so much uncertainty after Pep Guardiola left?

The immediate disruption is bigger than one coaching change. Manchester City confirmed that five members of Guardiola's backroom staff left with him, and reports have quickly shifted toward squad uncertainty too, especially around Rúben Dias and Kalvin Phillips. City also finished second in the Premier League with 78 points, so this is a transition summer rather than a title-winning reset.

Is Rúben Dias leaving Manchester City after Pep Guardiola's exit?

There is no confirmation that Rúben Dias is leaving Manchester City. Reports say he is unsettled after Guardiola's departure and has asked his agent to explore options away from the club. What is verified in the brief is that he remained heavily involved this season, making 26 Premier League appearances and 7 Champions League appearances.

What is happening with Kalvin Phillips at Manchester City now?

Phillips still looks far from central to City's plans. The verified numbers in the brief show only 1 Manchester City appearance in the 2025 season and 10 minutes played. Sheffield United are interested in bringing him back, and Chris Wilder has said the club would like to be an option if a deal becomes possible.

Who left Manchester City with Pep Guardiola?

Manchester City confirmed that five members of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff left alongside him. One notable detail is Pep Lijnders, who joined City last summer after spending 10 years as Jurgen Klopp's assistant at Liverpool. The exits show that Guardiola's departure is affecting the wider coaching structure, not just the manager's office.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →