Pep Guardiola had been playing it cool in the scorching heat that accompanied his final game in charge of Manchester City. Then he cracked.
The report indicates that pep Guardiola had been playing it cool in the scorching heat that accompanied his final game in charge of Manchester City. Then he cracked.
It further notes that as captain Bernardo Silva’s number 20 went up on the fourth official’s board at 59 minutes, Guardiola could not keep his emotions in check any longer.
The Portugal playmaker shed tears as he was given a guard of honour by both sets of players as he left the pitch. And it was then that they started streaming down his manager’s cheeks, too.
The two men, such pivotal figures in City’s recent domination of English football, embraced on the touchline.
That raw moment of affection between two greats of the Premier League was captured by photographers and will be printed, framed and hung up in the corridors of Etihad Stadium alongside those of icons Kevin de Bruyne, Sergio Aguero and Yaya Toure.
Guardiola wiped his face dry with his white t-shirt and tried to regain his composure as his side strained for one final victory under his management.
It was not to be. But despite defeat at the hands of an Aston Villa side high on success after Wednesday’s Europa League win, the loss was rendered instantly irrelevant by the sound of the full-time whistle that sparked emotion on the pitch and in the stands.
Guardiola attempted to find the words to sum up the day’s feelings. “This chapter will always be there,” stated the 55-year-old.
“Bernardo was emotional today, before the game. If you want to cry, then cry; if you want to laugh, then laugh. Emotions – you have to express them. I don’t cry, but when I see somebody else cry, then I cry.”
The merchandise stalls were doing a roaring trade before kick-off as flags and scarves emblazoned with Guardiola’s face were bought by those attending the end of this incredible era.
The arrival of the City team bus was greeted by hundreds of supporters lining up alongside the barriers in front of the Colin Bell Stand entrance, hoping to catch a glimpse of Guardiola entering the stadium for one last time as their manager.
His tenure has delivered the Premier League title six times, as well as the holy grail of a Champions League, three FA Cups and five Carabao Cups.
City have never seen success like it before. Very, very few have. Only the great Manchester United era under Sir Alex Ferguson and Bob Paisley’s Liverpool in the 1970s and ’80s have enjoyed such trophy-laden years.
A huge banner was unfurled in the East Stand as the players emerged onto the pitch before kick-off, which read ’10 years with Pep – Game changer, history maker, City forever’.
