Pep Guardiola expects some exits at Man City this summer (Image: GETTY)
Pep Guardiola says some of his Manchester City title-winning squad could leave the club this summer after the disappointment of their FA Cup final defeat to Manchester United.
City won their fourth consecutive Premier League title but their 2-1 loss to United at Wembley saw the season end on a bit of a sad note just seven days after they yet again won the league.
Just weeks ago, they had been dreaming of back-to-back trebles but Guardiola insists his players have still been “amazing and extraordinary” after making it four in a row in England’s top flight.
Guardiola said: “Next season is far away. It’s difficult for me to process, especially after winning the Premier League. Now we need to relax and we will be back as fresh as possible.
“Next season we’ll have to go step by step, we’ll see what happens, what squad we will have. We have to start to work and after that we will see. My feeling is that this season has been amazing.
“I know some players have to make a decision on whether they stay with us, some players might come. I’m really pleased with the team, how they’ve behaved all season. I could not say differently.
“It was nice to be in this final, but unfortunately we lost, after what we did in the Premier League and the Champions League.
“People say every season we have to win trebles and doubles. We are good but we are not that good.
Man City lost 2-1 to Man Utd in the FA Cup final (Image: GETTY)
“We tried, we were there until the end. We lost a game because in finals a lot of things can happen in moments, mistakes, decisions and it can influence the game.
“My sporting director says everything is fine for next year but right now I don’t know what might happen.”
Guardiola has argued that City should look back on their season with pride. The defence of their Champions League title only came to an end on penalties against 14-time European champions Real Madrid.
The Catalan coach added: “The team have been extraordinary, the way we played in the CL where we didn’t lose one game. Maybe we did not have the rhythm in the first half, they played long and they’ve struggled this season.
Man City 1-2 Man Utd: Pep Guardiola press conference
“They gave everything today to perform as well as possible. In the second half we were better and we had the chances to equalise, to reduce the margins.”
After their disappointment at Wembley, City remained on the pitch in a show of respect to watch United lift the trophy.
Guardiola continued: “You have to stay and give respect to the opponent. We played to win, they deserved it, congratulations. I could say a few things but I’ll just say congratulations. It’s not going to change next season. They lift the trophy and we just have to do better.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1903820/Pep-Guardiola-Man-City-Man-Utd