Pep Guardiola Told He Hasn’t ‘Got It in Him’ to Win Another Premier League Title

Ex-Man City Star Doubts Guardiola’s Future Despite New Contract Extension

When Pep Guardiola signed his latest contract extension at Manchester City last year, many assumed it was a statement of stability. The Catalan coach, who has redefined English football over the past decade, was tied to the Etihad until 2027. Yet despite the optimism, doubts have quickly resurfaced—doubts voiced most recently by former City midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who believes Guardiola no longer has “it in him” to win another Premier League or Champions League crown.

For a man who has spent nine years in Manchester shaping one of the most dominant sides in the history of the English game, these words sting. Guardiola has never been short of critics, but when those doubts come from within the ranks of former City players, they carry a sharper edge.

Guardiola’s Contract Extension and the Questions That Followed

City fans celebrated last season when Guardiola ended speculation about his future by committing to stay until 2027. But the renewal did not erase every question. After all, Guardiola’s 2024–25 campaign ended without major silverware, an unusual outcome for a manager whose standards are defined by trophies.

Hamann, speaking to GOAL in association with Grosvenor Casino, suggested that the contract was as much about “shutting people up” as it was about ambition. “I said in the summer I’d be surprised if he wins another big title. I don’t think he will,” Hamann said bluntly. “I don’t think he wins the Premier League or the Champions League.”

It was a damning assessment. For Hamann, City’s relentless dominance under Guardiola might be showing signs of fatigue. “He’s been there such a long time and I’m just not sure he’s still got it in him,” he added.

Has Guardiola Lost the Fire at Manchester City?

Dietmar Hamann Pep Guardiola trophies

After nearly a decade in Manchester, the question of whether Guardiola can continue to inspire his players is unavoidable. Managers of his intensity often burn out—both themselves and their squads. Jurgen Klopp recently admitted he needed a break after eight years at Liverpool, citing exhaustion.

Guardiola, whose attention to detail and obsession with control arguably go even further than Klopp’s, has been doing the job even longer. Hamann believes this weighs heavily: “It’s not only the pressure of success, it’s the rest that comes with it. Media duties, 24/7 focus—you can very rarely switch off.”

When City dropped early points this season, whispers grew louder about whether the fire was fading. Can he still galvanise his squad after nine years, or has the message become repetitive?

The Trophy Debate: Domestic Cups vs. Premier League and Champions League

Hamann was clear in drawing a line between “big titles” and the domestic cups. While Guardiola may still be capable of engineering League Cup or FA Cup wins, Hamann doesn’t see him lifting either of the two trophies that matter most in City’s modern project—the Premier League or the Champions League.

That’s not to diminish Guardiola’s incredible record. Since arriving at City in 2016, he has delivered multiple league titles, domestic trebles, and the elusive Champions League crown in 2023. But football is a forward-looking business, and past glory only buys limited time.

What Comes After Manchester?

Pep Guardiola Manchester City 2025

So, what lies ahead if Hamann’s prediction proves correct? Few believe Guardiola will move to another Premier League club. A return to Germany is possible, but even Bayern Munich—a club he once led to domestic dominance—may feel like a step backward.

The more likely destination, Hamann argues, is international football. “It’s probably the most likely. I can’t see him working for another club in England. Is he going to come back to Germany? Bayern Munich’s probably the only one, but I can’t really see that. I think international football, as he’s in his early-to-mid 50s now, is probably the port of call.”

For Guardiola, who has always spoken about his desire to test himself at international level, a national team project after City feels almost inevitable. Spain, Brazil, even England—nations will queue up for his services. But before that, Hamann predicts, Guardiola will take a much-needed break.

Guardiola’s Legacy and the Pressure of the Present

The criticism doesn’t erase Guardiola’s legacy. With Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City, he has broken records, won titles, and influenced a generation of coaches. He remains a tactical innovator, credited with reshaping how English football approaches possession, pressing, and positional play.

Yet football’s reality is brutal: legacies don’t shield managers from scrutiny in the present. Guardiola knows better than anyone that success has to be renewed every season. For all the talk of fatigue, no one doubts his competitiveness. If he feels he can no longer push City to the highest level, he has always said he would walk away on his own terms.

Can Guardiola Prove the Doubters Wrong?

So, is this the beginning of the end, or just another chapter in Guardiola’s extraordinary career? That remains to be seen. If City rally and reclaim their dominance this season, Hamann’s words may look premature. But if Guardiola falters again, the chorus of doubt will grow louder.

For now, Guardiola remains in Manchester, still demanding perfection from his players and himself. But the question lingers: does he truly still “have it in him” to lift the Premier League or Champions League again?

What seems certain is that when he eventually does leave City—whether after ten years or sooner—it will mark the end of an era not only for the club but for English football as a whole. And whether or not he delivers another major title before then, Guardiola’s influence will be felt long after he has gone.