Fabregas: 'Guardiola is very tired with Man City'

Midfielder Cesc Fabregas has warned Man City of the risk of decline if manager Pep Guardiola leaves due to fatigue in the near future.

"The future of Man City depends on two things: how hungry the players are after winning all the titles and above all Pep Guardiola," Fabregas said after the Champions League final between Man City and Inter on June 10. "How long will he stay? I see he is very tired."

But according to Fabregas, Guardiola will stay with Man City for at least one more season. The Spanish coach wants to defend the three titles he has just won: Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.

Guardiola helped Man City quench their Champions League thirst in the match on the evening of June 10 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Photo: Reuters — Guardiola helped Man City quench their Champions League thirst in the match on the evening of June 10 in Istanbul, Turkey. Photo: *Reuters*

Guardiola is famous for leaving clubs. When he was in charge of Barca, he only renewed his contract year by year. In 2012, after three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues, he decided to take a year off, despite all attempts by the board to convince him to stay.

In 2016, after his contract with Bayern expired, he moved to Man City. Clubs have never had to pay a transfer fee or contract compensation to Guardiola.

Guardiola has won 14 trophies with both Barca and Man City. He could soon win two more with Man City, if he beats Arsenal in the Community Shield on August 6 and Sevilla in the European Super Cup on August 16. With Bayern, Guardiola has seven trophies.

Other records await Guardiola next season. If he wins the 2023-24 Premier League, Man City will become the first team to win four consecutive titles. And if he successfully defends the Champions League, Guardiola will equal Carlo Ancelotti's record of four titles.

On the evening of June 10, Man City beat Inter 1-0 in the Champions League final. Midfielder Rodri scored the only goal in the 68th minute. Guardiola won his third title, equaling the achievements of Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane. The 52-year-old coach also set a record of winning two trebles with two different clubs.

After beating Inter, Guardiola joked that Man City were "only 13 titles behind" Real. He hoped Real would sleep for a while so Man City could catch up.

Guardiola coached Fabregas in the 2011-2012 season at Barca. Together they won a Copa del Rey, a Spanish Super Cup, a European Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup.