City are already thinking of a future... without Guardiola

Pep Guardiola never lasts more than four seasons at a club and, although he has another year on his contract, Manchester City are already thinking about a future without the coach. Although nobody is sure if he will leave or not, City don't want to be cuaght by surprise and are preparing for all situations.

The season has not been easy for City. Guardiola is following a trajectory very similar to the one that he maintained in the Barca and that barrier of the four years invites us to think that he will not go beyond this. The coach was already cryptic a few days ago when talking about his continuity.

"I am very comfortable working with this club. When you are at a place for five years, it depends on the results. We will see what happens this season," the Catalan said. With the league title far away from them (14 points behind Liverpool), the main priority is the Champions League. In Manchester have the assurance that if they get it, the coach would say goodbye to Etihad, where he arrived in 2016 with that primary goal.

In this situation, 'Mirror' publishes that in the Etihad they have begun to draw the lines of their next project without Pep. A restructuring that goes through a new coach and makes fundamental changes in the staff. However, the desire is to make a sweet transition.

City don't want Guardiola to feel uncomfortable throughout the season if talks happen and rumours arise. In addition, they want to continue down the same path marked by the coach, so their ideal candidate would be someone who is already at the club and is from Pep's environment.

City's idea is that this substitute will progressively come from Guardiola's coaching staff. If the exit takes place, this one would take the position. And if not, they would continue for another season under Guardiola's orders.

As for the reconstruction of the team, two key points are the roles of Fernandinho and David Silva. At 34 and 33, both are key in City, but they will have to step aside to favour the club's promising youngsters.

These are the steps Manchester City are looking to take, resigning themselves to whatever Pep Guardiola may decide. Whatever happens, the 'sky blue' team want to keep the legacy of the Catalan safe in these four campaigns at the Etihad Stadium.

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