Ex-Man City ace shares Pep Guardiola resignation verdict after Man Utd loss – EXCLUSIVE

Maybe Erik ten Hag was right, eras do come to an end. On the back of Manchester City’s 10th winless match in 11 outings, it looks as if Pep Guardiola’s stranglehold over the Premier League is beginning to loosen up.

City had led until the 88th minute against rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon – a match they went on to lose.

Second-half collapses have become a theme of City’s slump, with Brighton, Sporting, Spurs, Feyenoord and now United having all pried on their fragility at the back to snatch victories in recent weeks.

Almost certainly out of the title race and with their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread, under any other circumstance, speculation about the manager being let go would’ve been swirling.

Given Guardiola’s success since arriving in Manchester and the fact he’s just been handed a new contract, the chances of him being sacked out are essentially non-existent.

But what if Guardiola was to resign instead?

It was a question put to ex-City ace Shay Given, who spoke exclusively to Express Sport, in the midst of his former club’s winless run.

He said: “I don’t think he’ll ever get sacked because of the level he’s been at and what he’s done for the club.

“It’s probably more of a personal question about pride, he’ll be looking at himself and saying this isn’t acceptable. So [if he is to leave] it will be more from Pep than the club.”

Doubts were raised in the aftermath of City’s shocking defeat to United over the weekend when the Catalan coach claimed his efforts haven’t been ‘good enough’ as of late.

Things could get worse for City before they get better, as a tricky test to Aston Villa awaits this weekend.

However, despite the ongoing rut City find themselves in, Given has no doubt Guardiola will find a solution in due course.

The Irishman continued: “It was a month ago when he came out and said he’s here for the long term, to fight and get us out of this situation. He could’ve easily stepped away before signing a new contract.

“He said ‘No this is what I want to do, I want to be here and turn it around’ and he also wants to leave the club in a strong position for the next manager that comes along.

“I don’t see Pep as a quitter or someone who walks away from a challenge. But it is in his career, he’s never had a spell like this. Sometimes you learn more when you go through a bad spell, than when you’re flying at the top of the league.”

Shay Given is a brand ambassador for sports betting platform CopyBet. Visit CopyBet.com