Pep Guardiola, the first reaction after losing the title in England + What he said about leaving City

Article by Cosmin Nistor – Published on Wednesday, 20 May 2026, 00:09 / Updated on Wednesday, 20 May 2026 00:11
Pep Guardiola, the coach of this season's runners-up Manchester City, gave his first reaction after the 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in a match that decided the new champions of England.
Following this result, the title mathematically went to Arsenal, who won the Premier League for the first time in 22 years.
Pep Guardiola, after Bournemouth – Manchester City 1-1: “We congratulate Mikel Arteta and all the staff, players and fans”
The technician of the “citizens” spoke about the match that confirmed the loss of the title:
“It was a difficult match, I knew it would be like that. They have had 10 days of training and have a lot of energy. We fought and found a goal at the end, but it was too late.
We could have played tomorrow or Thursday, but the schedule is what it is. We used a lot of midfielders to try to control their transitions. The players have given everything this season in difficult conditions.
I was close. On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, congratulations to Mikel Arteta and all the staff, players and fans for winning the Premier League. Deserve.”
Asked about the departure rumours, Guardiola clarified the contract situation:
“I have one year left on my contract. I'll talk to the president at the end of the season. I won't tell you here, I have to talk to the president, the players and my staff“, said the technician, according to The Guardian.
Arsenal, the first title after 22 years
Arsenal won the Premier League after a 22-year wait, mathematically securing the trophy this season. The last success dates from the legendary 2003-2004 season.
This is the 14th Premier League title in the club's history. In addition to the championship success, Arsenal also qualified for the UEFA Champions League final, where they will face Paris Saint-Germain, with the chance to win the European trophy for the first time.




