Pep exhausted and stepping down as Manchester City manager; taking indefinite break from coaching

Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, has acknowledged that exhaustion is one of the factors behind his decision to leave the club, and confirmed he will take an indefinite break from coaching. Guardiola will depart Manchester City after the current season ends, marking the conclusion of a 10-year tenure with the club during which he led the team to 17 major trophies.

At a pre-match press conference ahead of Manchester City's clash with Aston Villa—his final match as manager—Guardiola revealed that burnout was a key factor in his decision to step down, comparing his situation to that of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp. "Definitely, I have had it and I will have it in the future," he said. "I feel I will not have enough energy to fight for the championship every day, every three days, and be in front of the players. I know myself. I have that energy, but now I feel I won't have it anymore. What is the reason? It's time. Ten years have passed. My biggest decision has already happened."

Guardiola emphasized this is the right moment for change rather than a sign of diminished ambition. "It's not because I don't have ambition or don't want to try again. It's okay, Pep, after 10 years, it's good to change the atmosphere, to move on and meet new people. It's truly good for everyone," he explained. "If I didn't believe that, if they hadn't forced me out, I would have stayed. But I think this is the most appropriate time. Much better than last season, for example. Don't overlook that this season has been excellent—battling Arsenal until the final second, winning two Premier League titles, fighting in every match. That's really good."

The 55-year-old coach also revealed his plans to rest before considering his next move. "I'm taking a break now. I have no plans to coach for a while. Otherwise I would stay here. I need to step back. I won't be coaching for a while."