Pep Guardiola makes honest admission after legendary manager confirmed to leave Manchester City




Pep Guardiola has made an honest admission after being confirmed to leave Manchester City after the Citizens’ last game of the season against Aston Villa.The Spaniard has enjoyed an illustrious 10 years at the Etihad Stadium, winning 20 trophies and going down as the most successful manager in the club’s history.In a candid interview reflecting on his decade in Manchester, Guardiola shared he regretted not giving England keeper Joe Hart an opportunity to prove himself.Hart was sent out on loan to Torino just weeks into the Spaniard’s appointment, with Claudio Bravo coming in to replace him before Ederson the year after.Guardiola told Sky Sports: “I want to confess, I have regrets. When you take a lot of decisions, a lot, lot of decisions, you make mistakes.”But there is one regret that I have deep inside for many years, that I didn’t give a chance to Joe Hart to be with me to prove himself how good a keeper he was.”I should have done, not because… all respect for Claudio, all respect for Ede who came in, they were important, but in that moment, I could have said: ‘Okay Joe, let’s try to do it together. If it doesn’t work, okay, we’ll change it’.”But it happened. Life is sometimes… I have to take decisions and sometimes I’m not fair enough.”Pep Guardiola shared not giving Joe Hart a chance was his biggest regret | REUTERSHe continued: “Maybe with time then and learning… But I regret it from that time.”In that moment, I said: ‘I believe in that’. Always I am stubborn in my decisions, when I believe in that. “When I have doubts, I talk with people, but when I’m completely sure, 100 per cent, I say: ‘Guys, we have to do it in that way’, and I have been at a club that has supported me absolutely in everything with that.”Guardiola acknowledged managing human emotions is one of the toughest aspects of coaching, especially with players excluded from the team.Joe Hart was replaced by Claudio Bravo by Pep Guardiola | GETTYHe emphasised he has always approached this challenge with humanity and respect.The Spaniard said: “If in that I failed, I do apologise, but it never, never was my intention or the intention of the club.”Guardiola will continue with the City Football Group, taking up the role of Global Ambassador.During his 10 years at City, he won six Premier League titles, one Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, one Club World Cup, one Super Cup and three FA Community Shields.Pep Guardiola leaves City after 10 years at the club | REUTERSHe achieved the infamous 100 points tally in 2018, an all-time Premier League record.After losing a Champions League final in 2021 to Chelsea, the former midfielder followed it up by winning the competition, beating Inter Milan in the final.He concludes this season with the League Cup and the FA Cup, leaving City as their greatest-ever manager.Enzo Maresca is tipped to replace Guardiola at the Etihad, having worked under him before stepping into the managerial world on his own.