Guardiola Says Barca, Madrid Would Have Sacked Him After Poor Man City Season

Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his challenging 2024-25 season with Manchester City, which included a third-place Premier League finish and early exits from the Champions League and Carabao Cup, would likely have led to his dismissal had he been managing Barcelona or Real Madrid. Despite City's poor run, including nine losses in 13 games between October and December, the club showed patience by extending Guardiola's contract, a level of tolerance he believes Spanish clubs would not have demonstrated. Guardiola cited Carlo Ancelotti's recent departure from Real Madrid shortly after winning the Champions League and LaLiga as an example of the high expectations and low tolerance for underperformance in Spain. Real Madrid responded to Ancelotti's exit by appointing Xabi Alonso, while Manchester City have strengthened their squad with new signings such as Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Rayan Cherki. Guardiola emphasized the need for patience and backing from the club, contrasting it with the swift managerial changes common at top Spanish clubs. Both Manchester City and Real Madrid are set to participate in the upcoming Club World Cup, highlighting their ongoing competition at the highest level.