Pep Guardiola has spoken candidly about his future at Manchester City while preparing for Saturday's Premier League match against West Ham. The City manager emphasized the team's current form but admitted they are not yet at title-winning level. West Ham, struggling near the relegation zone, face a tough challenge at the Etihad Stadium.
Manchester City head into their Premier League fixture against West Ham on Saturday with a chance to climb to the top of the table, albeit temporarily. The match at Etihad Stadium kicks off at 15:00 GMT, pitting City's six-game winning streak against West Ham's bid to escape the bottom three.
Phil Foden has been pivotal in City's resurgence, thriving in a deeper midfield role this season. With 13 goals and five assists in 2025-26, Foden has already exceeded last season's tally. He spent 77% of his playing time in central midfield, up from 24%, and over a third of his touches occur in the defensive half—his highest career proportion.
West Ham sit third from bottom after five winless matches, including draws in all three away games during that run and a home defeat to Aston Villa despite leading twice. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo lamented, "Games have been slipping through our hands," highlighting a mental aspect his team is addressing. The Hammers have not beaten City in 20 league encounters over a decade and must win while hoping Leeds loses to Crystal Palace to avoid the drop zone at Christmas.
In his pre-match news conference, Guardiola stated, "We are not at the level required to win the title," though he praised the squad's mentality. No players are returning for the game, with some possibly available against Sunderland next. He lauded Rayan Cherki's mentality and Savinho's natural one-v-one ability, while crediting Nico Gonzalez alongside Kovacic and Rodri for City's position.
On his future, with 18 months left on his deal expiring in 2027, Guardiola said, "Sooner or later I will quit Manchester City. I'm excited by the development of the team." He dismissed ongoing discussions, adding, "I will not be here forever... The club must be prepared but that subject is not on the table right now." When asked about managing the 2026-27 opener, he replied, "I'm here. What is going to happen next, who knows?"
Club sources indicate preparations for potential successors, with sporting director Hugo Viana compiling a shortlist. Potential signings are aware of the uncertainty.
