Credit: Imago

Evan Lloyd

Thu 12 March 2026 15:00, UK

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Pep Guardiola’s odds of leaving Manchester City have been shortened in the wake of Wednesday’s loss to Real Madrid.

The Citizens were thumped 3-0 by the Spanish giants, despite key absences in Alvaro Arbeloa’s team.

Real Madrid were without Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Eder Militao and several other important figures, but it was their captain who ultimately made the difference.

Federico Valverde opened the scoring when he latched onto Thibaut Courtois’s long ball in the first half, and he added two more for a hat-trick before the break.

Man City’s managerial situation is one to keep an eye on, with the likelihood of Guardiola seeing out the last year of his contract increasingly uncertain.

Bookies shorten Pep Guardiola odds

This summer, Guardiola will have been in charge of Man City for a decade, winning six Premier Leagues, the Champions League, the Super Cup, the Club World Cup, two FA Cups and four League Cups.

No one would begrudge him if he were to turn around and decide to call it a day in the Premier League.

And the possibility of exactly that looks to be increasing by the week, with his side left wanting far more than they have in the past.

Former financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider last month that Man City could hire Andoni Iraola in the event that Guardiola leaves, although they would prefer that to be in 2027.

The Citizens do remain in all four competitions, for now. Real Madrid can be got at, and the Premier League side will attempt to overturn the deficit at the Etihad Stadium next week.

In the Premier League, too, Man City remain on the tails of Arsenal, who have not looked convincing themselves over the last few weeks.

Yet Guardiola appears, at times, to be growing tired with the constant competition.

One major bookmaker has shortened his odds of being the next Premier League manager to leave to 12/1, with Scott Parker (5/4) and Oliver Glasner (6/4) still leading the way.

Guardiola drops future hint

Speaking before Wednesday’s clash at the Bernabeu, Guardiola was asked by TNT Sports if he will miss games like this when he retires.

“Yeah, I will miss but I will miss not going to Camp Nou,” he said. “I’ll miss Bayern Munich – hopefully we can go through and go there – and I will miss that, when I stop and retire.

“I will miss these nights because they are so special. I’ll miss Selhurst Park as well, I love it. Premier League, these stadiums.

“I don’t know, Champions League I will miss, but Fulham, Crystal Palace, this type [of stadiums], Goodison Park – these stadiums are one of the reasons I adore England, I adore the Premier League, for these kind of – FA Cup! Against League One [teams]… I like a lot! But one day it will be over, right?”

One would suggest Guardiola’s answer was not one of a manager set to extend his stay in the Premier League.