Former Manchester United captain, Gary Neville, has shared his thoughts on the recent contract extension of Pep Guardiola with Manchester City. He believes that the club has promised Guardiola a complete rebuilding of the team in exchange for his commitment.
Pep Guardiola recently put an end to speculation about his future by signing a two-year contract extension at Etihad Stadium. His previous deal was set to expire at the end of this season. This move was expected to boost City’s form after they suffered four consecutive defeats before the international break.
However, hopes were dashed when Tottenham thrashed them 4-0 at home on Saturday evening. A fifth straight defeat has left City eight points behind Premier League table leaders Liverpool who won against Southampton.
Absence of Rodri and its impact
City’s current problems are largely attributed to the absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri from midfield who is ruled out for rest of the season due to injury. The situation is further exacerbated by Mateo Kovacic's injury which has heightened their need for immediate reinforcements in January.
Neville expects a major addition in January but also emphasizes that there are deeper issues across the side that need addressing beyond just replacing Rodri.
Promise of a major rebuild
While it is clear that Guardiola has committed himself to City for another two years, Neville speculates that he must have been promised a substantial summer transfer budget next year as part of this new deal. This would enable him to rectify current problems and rebuild his team effectively.
‘It feels like today if City were to win the title this season I think it would be Pep Guardiola’s greatest Premier League,. Because of what we’ve seen so far, I think they will do the business in January and get a midfield player in, that’s no1. But to get Pep to stay again, they have obviously promised him a great contract but they must have also promised him a reinvestment next summer that is quite spectacular and a rebuild of this team.
‘I would imagine they will wait for that. I don’t think we will see two or three or four in January, maybe just one to sort the midfield issue out. But it’s not just Rodri. Rico Lewis came in today [against Tottenham] with Bernardo Silva on the right, Gundogan and Savinho on the left and Phil Foden in front of them and they have been obliterated.
‘The back for look knackered. They look absolutely beat. They were all beaten physically and mentally.’
This statement reflects the magnitude of challenges that Guardiola and his team are currently facing. However, with a potential major rebuild on the horizon, fans can look forward to an exciting transformation in Manchester City's future.
The recent contract extension of Pep Guardiola has sparked various speculations and expectations among sports enthusiasts. While it is clear that Manchester City is going through a challenging phase, there is hope for significant improvements in the near future. The promise of a complete team rebuild could be just what they need to regain their form and compete at their best once again.
