Pep Guardiola’s overhaul at Manchester City is set to be bigger than expected with three of the Spaniard’s closest lieutenants departing the Etihad Stadium this summer
Pep Guardiola is set to overhaul his backroom team with three assistant coaches departing Manchester City. Guardiola has overseen a difficult campaign, which saw City finish third in the Premier League.
It is just the second time in his managerial career that a Guardiola team has finished outside the top two. City also failed to secure a trophy, being knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the Last 16, dumped out of the Champions League in the play-off round and losing the FA Cup final.
Veteran skipper Kevin De Bruyne’s exit has already been announced as Guardiola bids to overhaul his squad. There is set to be further changes at the Etihad Stadium, with the City boss announcing a range of coaching changes.
City have announced that Carlos Vicens, Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez have all departed the club. Lillo and Dominguez have seen their contracts expire, while Vincens has been allowed to take over as head coach of Braga.
Lillo first arrived at City as one of Guardiola’s lieutenants in 2020, before leaving two years later to become head coach of Al-Sadd. He returned to Manchester in 2023, but has now expressed a desire to return to Spain.
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Dominguez meanwhile has also moved on two years after arriving at the Etihad. Vicens first joined City in 2017 as a coach in their youth team, before being promoted to Guardiola’s first-team staff in 2021.
He will now replace former Swansea City boss Carlos Carvahal at Braga after being given permission to leave City for the Primeira Liga side. City have confirmed they will be seeking replacements for the trio of departing coaches.
Those appointments will be announced ‘in due course’ by the Premier League club. Guardiola himself has denied that the overhaul this summer will be as extensive as many expect.
“I don’t have that feeling,” he said after the final day win over Fulham. “I saw my players in training and thought how good they are. Of course, new faces will come but I don’t think a lot because we have a good squad in contract and they want to stay here.
“I remember the first season we qualified and didn’t win one title; it was 10 or so players at the end of contract and only Yaya [Toure] extended. Then you make the changes, but we have 23 players under contract, that’s why I don’t have the feeling it will come.
“That proves the summer is long, the Club World Cup, maybe [some] players will realise they want to leave but that’s not my business. Mine was to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next year.
“We never gave up. It’s tough, especially the players even in the incredible difficulties were there, and finishing third is nice. It’s not perfect but we’ll be in Europe next season in the Champions League.
“Today, people maybe don’t believe me but it’s a happy day for all of us. We know what happens inside, we learn the lesson for next season that it won’t happen again. Of course there are some things that hopefully we can solve next season. I’m pretty sure next season we’ll be better.”
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