Pep Guardiola says his departure from Manchester City was not forced. “Don't ask me the reasons I'm leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it's my time,” he said, as the club’s own reflections on the end of his reign pointed to a rougher internal mood than the farewell line suggests. Guardiola confirmed in May that he would leave at the end of the 2025/26 season, and his final match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on May 24.

Guardiola’s explanation for leaving

The exit itself is now settled. Guardiola said there was no single reason behind it and added, “Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here.” City’s run under him still came with the kind of honours that make any departure feel like the closing of a major era, not just the end of a contract cycle.

Manchester City won six Premier League titles and one Champions League under Guardiola. They also finished second in the Premier League in 2025 with 78 points, 23 wins, 9 draws and 6 defeats. That is a strong end-point for a reign that lasted long enough to set a standard and then keep meeting it.

The Leverkusen defeat that changed the mood

The sharper edge in the story comes from the Champions League home loss to Bayer Leverkusen. Guardiola made 10 changes for that match, and Khaldoon Al Mubarak later called it “one of the lowest points we have had.” He added, “I can't speak to him, honestly, I am so angry. He has put a mix in that is so unnecessary.”

Ferran Soriano was even more direct about responsibility. “Our attitude with Pep should not be too negative but not too kind or accommodating either because it is his mistake,” he said. Guardiola later matched that tone himself, telling his players he felt “f***ing stupid” after the rotation backfired.

City eventually just avoided the Champions League knockout play-off round despite the defeat, which gives the documentary clips a bit more bite. The result did not wreck the season on its own, but it did expose the strain inside a club that was still winning while looking irritated with itself.

Guardiola is gone now, and City have already moved on to Enzo Maresca at the end of June. What remains from the exit is the split between Guardiola’s own explanation and the club’s internal frustration, with the Leverkusen night sitting nearest the centre of that divide.

FAQ

Why is Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City now?

Guardiola said there was no single reason and that it was simply “my time”. City confirmed in May that he would leave at the end of the 2025/26 season, and his final match ended in a 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on May 24.

What did Manchester City say about the Leverkusen defeat?

Khaldoon Al Mubarak said Guardiola’s 10-change gamble in the Champions League home loss to Bayer Leverkusen was one of City’s lowest points. He added that he was too angry to speak to him, while Ferran Soriano said the mistake was Guardiola’s.

How successful was Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City reign?

City won six Premier League titles and one Champions League under Guardiola. The club also finished second in the Premier League in 2025 with 78 points, which makes the exit feel like the end of a trophy-heavy era rather than a collapse.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →