Pep Guardiola drops major hint over Manchester City future with treble in sight

Pep Guardiola has hinted that he could depart Manchester City at the end of the season should his side prove successful in their attempt to seal the treble.

City secured their fifth Premier League title of Guardiola's seven-year reign on Saturday after Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest and the Cityzens still have their eyes on lifting the FA Cup and Champions League.

An English side hasn't won a treble since Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side of 1999 and Guardiola and co. could make history in their remaining four matches of the season.

League matches against Chelsea, Brighton and Brentford now seem somewhat irrelevant with the title secured whilst United and Inter Milan await in the FA Cup and Champions League finals respectively.

Europe's elite prize is still yet to be won by City with Guardiola's last triumph coming in 2011 with Barcelona. It is a title that has evaded the Spaniard for over a decade having proven unsuccessful with both Bayern Munich and City thus far.

Success against Inter in Istanbul on 10th June would complete the job the 52-year-old came to the Etihad to oversee, but would that prompt the City boss to call it a day.

Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of his side's home clash with Chelsea, prior to the securing of the Premier League title was confirmed, Guardiola provided a cryptic answer regarding his future.

When asked about there being little left to win should City secure the treble, the Spaniard said: "First, we have to win it. [Then] you can ask me after and I will tell you how I feel and how I think.

Pep Guardiola on the touchline during Manchester City vs. West Ham United. Image: Alamy

"Of course, we are three games away and we need each competition to do it.

"[But] You are going to tell me that our city rivals, Man Utd, will be an easy game? What will happen against an Italian team, who don't feel favourites?

"I'm thinking about that. And after, of course, if we achieve then I will tell you."

Guardiola is contracted at the Etihad until 2025 having signed a contract extension earlier this season and the treble would see the City boss' number of trophies won as a manager reach 24 in just 14 seasons.

Topics: Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup

Dan Hargraves

Dan is a freelance sports journalist currently in his final year studying Football Journalism at the University of Derby. Currently working for SPORTBible and Reach PLC, he has also worked for Snack Media amongst others. His proudest work thus far came at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games where he was a live blogger for the Commonwealth Games Federation, providing sports coverage on the tournament's official website to over a billion people.

@danjhargraves