It must have all gone a bit ‘Brenda from Bristol’ in the living rooms of the various Premier League managers yesterday, when their international breaks were rudely interrupted by news of Pep Guardiola’s latest Manchester City contract extension.
In truth, it had been expected: both that Guardiola would make his decision some time around now, and that it would be this one, particularly so since the FA had given up hope that he might fancy taking the England job next summer.
But there were those that wondered whether the recent run of four straight defeats - the first such instance in Guardiola’s career - the upcoming departure of sporting director Txiki Begiristain and the sense that, in midfield in particular, this is starting to look a worn City team, might prompt reservations. Might even prompt the end. Instead, all hail the Pep decade: having arrived in 2016, the 53-year-old will be around until at least the summer of 2026.
The guessing game has already begun as to what any of this means in relation to the Premier League’s ongoing legal case against its four-time reigning champions. What does Guardiola know? What assurances has he received? City deny any wrongdoing.
Coming on the same day that Aston Villa rowed in behind City in their push to block a vote on associated party transaction rules (a separate matter to the 115 charges), the impression is of momentum swinging the sky blue way. But this is a tussle playing out in a courtroom, not at the darts oche.
In any case, this time last year Guardiola said he was more likely to stay if City were in League One than the Champions League. So, who knows - perhaps they’re bang to rights?
What is clear is that, beyond the obvious advantage of retaining the world’s best manager, this, in a moment of struggle, is a timely boost to City (and therefore a blow to their rivals) on two fronts.
The first is with a view to January, when should the club try to find a Rodri replacement or more goals to support Erling Haaland, potential targets will know they are guaranteed at least 18 months under Guardiola factored into the deal.
The second is that, in the immediate term, there will be no grand implosion of the Etihad Death Star. There was a scenario where City - irrespective of the unknowables of that legal case - lost the title, their manager and their sporting director at the end of this season, and thus slumped into a period of transitional decline.
Just five points off Liverpool, nothing is lost yet. But even if this proves City’s fallow season, Guardiola will be back next year, to try and win it all over again.
