Manchester City are facing one of the most uncomfortable moments of the Pep Guardiola era, and for the first time in many years, the question is no longer about how many trophies they will win, but whether the man who changed the club forever is slowly reaching the end of his time at the Etihad Stadium. The feeling around the club has changed. The mood has shifted. The fear that once belonged to opponents now sits quietly inside the blue half of Manchester. And after another painful Premier League slip, this time a 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur after leading 2-0, the pressure has grown louder than ever.
Sunday’s match felt like more than just two dropped points. It felt like a warning sign. Manchester City were cruising, comfortable, confident, and in control. Then slowly, almost painfully, everything slipped away. Tottenham refused to lie down, City lost their grip, and once again the champions showed a weakness that has followed them throughout this season. When the final whistle blew, the Etihad felt heavy, not angry, not shocked, but worried. The result left City six points behind league leaders Arsenal, and the title race, which once looked routine, now feels like a mountain that may be too steep to climb.
Pep Guardiola stood on the touchline with his usual intensity, shouting instructions, waving his arms, demanding perfection, but the players did not respond the way they once did. The sharpness is missing. The control is fading. The fear factor is gone. And that is why, behind closed doors, questions are being asked that would have been unthinkable just a year ago. Is Pep Guardiola still the right man to take Manchester City forward? Has his message gone stale? Has this incredible journey finally reached its natural end?
Guardiola is under contract until 2027, and officially, Manchester City continue to back their manager. There are no public statements suggesting panic. There are no leaks suggesting an immediate exit. But football rarely waits for contracts, and history shows that once doubts begin to creep in, they rarely disappear. According to reports, especially from The Telegraph, Manchester City are already preparing for a future without Guardiola. Not because they want him gone today, but because they understand football moves quickly, and the biggest clubs always plan ahead.
Behind the scenes, a three-man shortlist has reportedly been drawn up. Three names. Three different paths. Three possible futures for Manchester City if Pep Guardiola decides to walk away, or if the club decides the time has come for change. Those names are Xabi Alonso, Cesc Fabregas, and Enzo Maresca. Each comes with promise. Each comes with risk. And each tells a story about where City may be heading next.
The name that stands out most is Xabi Alonso. His rise in management has been nothing short of remarkable. His success at Bayer Leverkusen shocked German football and impressed Europe. In the 2023-24 season, Alonso led Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga title, going unbeaten across the entire league campaign. No club in German top-flight history had ever done that before. It was not luck. It was not a one-off miracle. It was tactical intelligence, emotional control, and a calm authority that reminded many people of Guardiola himself.
Alonso’s recent sacking at Real Madrid in January raised eyebrows, but many inside football believe that moment should not define him. Reports suggest he walked into a broken dressing room, full of egos, politics, and internal tension. Even the best managers struggle in that environment. What matters more is the body of work he built before that setback. At Leverkusen, Alonso created belief, structure, and fear. His team pressed intelligently, controlled possession without boredom, and attacked with purpose.
What makes Alonso even more attractive to Manchester City is his background. He understands Guardiola’s football because he lived it. He played under Pep at Bayern Munich. He learned from Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid. He experienced different philosophies, different pressures, and different football cultures. That mix could be priceless for City as they look to evolve rather than completely reset.
However, there is a major problem. Time. If Manchester City truly want Alonso, they may need to act fast. Liverpool are watching closely. If Arne Slot fails to meet expectations at Anfield, Alonso could become their number one target. His connection to Liverpool as a former player only makes that possibility more dangerous for City. Walking into Anfield, with that emotional bond, could be too tempting for Alonso to ignore. And once that door opens, City may never get another chance.
While Alonso feels like the natural heir, the club is also looking at Enzo Maresca. His name divides opinion, but his relationship with Guardiola cannot be ignored. Maresca worked as Pep’s assistant at Manchester City between June 2022 and June 2023. He understands the training methods. He understands the demands. He understands the obsession with detail that defines Guardiola’s football.
Maresca’s managerial career has already delivered silverware. At Chelsea, he managed to win both the Club World Cup and the Conference League. Those are not small achievements. They show that he can prepare a team for big occasions and handle pressure when it matters most. However, consistency remains the biggest question mark hanging over him. Chelsea under Maresca were capable of beating anyone on their day, but they struggled to maintain form across an entire league season. For a club like Manchester City, consistency is everything.
Still, from City’s perspective, Maresca represents continuity. He would not need time to learn the culture. He would not need to change the identity. The transition would be smooth. The risk would be lower than starting fresh with an outsider. If Guardiola leaves suddenly, Maresca could step in without shaking the foundations.
Then there is Cesc Fabregas. The most romantic option. The most risky option. And perhaps the most intriguing one. Fabregas is still early in his managerial journey, having only taken charge as a head coach in July 2024. His work at Como has quietly impressed many people across Europe. Sixth place in Serie A, only 16 goals conceded in 23 matches, and a defensive record that puts far more experienced managers to shame. Even more impressive is the context. Como were playing in the second tier as recently as the 2023-24 season. Fabregas has taken them up and made them competitive almost instantly.
But Manchester City is not Como. The pressure is not comparable. The expectations are brutal. Appointing Fabregas would be a gamble of the highest level. His understanding of elite football is unquestionable. He played under Guardiola at Barcelona. He knows what excellence looks like. But knowing and delivering are two very different things. City would be betting on potential, not proof.
If City miss out on Alonso, the decision becomes harder. Fabregas excites the imagination but carries danger. Maresca feels safer but less inspiring. And hovering over everything is Guardiola himself, still in charge, still fighting, still insisting that the season is not over.
Pep Guardiola has never been a man who clings to power. When he feels his message is no longer landing, he walks away. He did it at Barcelona. He did it at Bayern Munich. And many believe he will do it again. The question is not if the Guardiola era will end, but when. This season, with its dropped points, defensive mistakes, and emotional frustration, feels different. The calm dominance has been replaced by tension. The certainty has been replaced by doubt.
Players feel it. Fans feel it. Opponents feel it. Arsenal sense weakness. Liverpool smell opportunity. Even Tottenham walked into the Etihad believing they could get something, and they were right.
Manchester City are still a great team. They still have world-class players. They are still capable of winning matches convincingly. But greatness is fragile. Once the edge disappears, it is almost impossible to recover it. Guardiola knows that better than anyone. He knows when the fire fades. He knows when the cycle ends.
That is why the shortlist exists. That is why conversations are happening quietly. That is why names like Alonso, Maresca, and Fabregas are being discussed in boardrooms rather than newspapers. City are preparing for a future that once felt unimaginable.
Whether Guardiola stays until 2027 or leaves at the end of this season, Manchester City are entering a new phase. The Premier League is stronger. Rivals are smarter. The margin for error is smaller. And the era of easy dominance is over.
For now, Guardiola fights on. He speaks of belief. He speaks of patience. He speaks of trust. But football does not wait for speeches. It responds to results. And if the dropped points continue, if Arsenal keep pulling away, if the Champions League slips again, the noise will become impossible to ignore.
Manchester City have reached the crossroads. One path leads to loyalty, patience, and faith in the man who gave them everything. The other leads to change, risk, and a new beginning. Whichever path they choose, the decision will define the next decade of the club.
The Guardiola era is not officially over. But for the first time, it feels like the end is no longer a distant thought. It is right there, standing quietly on the horizon, waiting.
