At 20:07 in the afternoon in Spain, 19:07 in the Etihad offices, the red button was pressed. The one to send. “We will continue with Pep Guardiola at the helm until 2023,” read his Twitter account. The Mancuniana entity and the Catalan coach were still linked in Pep Guardiola's longest-lasting marriage at a professional level.
The fact that a bench star stays in your club and in your league when before he always left his jobs before reaching five years is reason enough to occupy the covers of the British press this Friday but, in England, they go one step further. Guardiola's renewal is seen as one more piece for Messi to end up removing the scarlet from his shirt and remaining only blue. From the sky blue of Manchester City.
The expression “Get Messi” is the leivmotiv which is repeated on several covers this Friday in the British press. “Guardiola will intensify the persecution of the Barça superstar after signing a new agreement with City”, reads the Daily Express. “The City signs Pep until 2023 and they say” bring Messi “affirms the Mirror while the Daily Star talks about targeting” his old friend “in reference to the Argentine.
Daily Star, Daily Express, Daily Mirror, The Guardian
A perfect ecosystem for Pep, and Messi?
With the new property, City changed their entire football culture and Pep Guardiola has endowed the club with a unique identity at stake. The Catalan is a symbol and the fans are behind in good times and also in bad times. The club's ecosystem, calmer than in Barcelona, could end up attracting Leo Messi.
Speaking to the club media, Pep Guardiola explained the reasons that keep him at the Etihad for longer than in other places. “As a coach, I have everything I need. I know that everything depends on the results, we have to win to continue but I have seen how they have supported me here in bad times. Both Ferran and Txiki but also Khaldoon, our president. This is the reason that invites me to continue. We have talked a lot, all together to decide whether to continue or not and the best thing is to continue. Because we feel that our work is not done here yet. This club has won a lot and we want to win again. The objective is to maintain the level as long as we can. I want to help the fantastic players we have and make our fans happy. Let them be proud of how we played and how we won. “Good atmosphere between the squad and the board, mutual support, understanding, support from the fans. Pep could not be more comfortable and he was the one who made Messi feel more comfortable. In England, they dream of a second part, but all tinged with blue.