Man City boss Pep Guardiola reveals what saved his job during 'really poor' 2024-25 campaign as revered Catalan insists he was almost sacked

By their lofty standards, City had a wretched season in 2024-25 as they finished the campaign without a trophy and came third in the Premier League table. They also went on a run of nine losses in 12 games in all competitions towards the end of 2024 and, had it not been for the backing of chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and former sporting director Txixi Begiristain, the ex-Barcelona boss thinks he could have been dismissed.

He told TNT Sports: "I'm really pleased to sit here after a bad season. If I didn't have my chairman and sporting director like I have, I would have been sacked, definitely. Because the results were really, really poor. It's a new season, we've had six or seven signings between the transfer window in December and now. Football is this: win or lose, what's the next chapter? The next chapter is this season and nobody knows what's going to happen. We have, I think, the desire to do well."

Guardiola had enough credit in the bank at City not to be sacked after winning a Champions League title, six Premier Leagues, and multiple FA Cup, and Carabao Cups. However, the former Bayern Munich boss will be determined to return his side to winning ways this season.

After an impressive opening day win over Wolves last weekend, City host Thomas Frank's Tottenham in the Premier League's early kick-off at the Etihad. Guardiola rarely has two disappointing seasons in a row.