Khaldoon Al Mubarak comments prove Man City won't collapse if Pep Guardiola leaves

It was a nervy final few weeks of the season for Manchester City supporters, but in the end the Blues got over the line to be crowned Premier League champions for the fourth time in five years.

Another point of anxiety in the final stretch of the season was the pursuit of Erling Haaland. City had for months gone head-to-head with Real Madrid for the young striker's signature, but ultimately they proved successful.

Now attentions are turning to the future of manager Pep Guardiola — although in truth it has been a point of speculation for a few months now. The City boss has little more than 12 months remaining on his current contract, and has in recent weeks taken the stance that he will not consider his future until the end of next season.

In contradiction, a recent report has suggested that he and City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak will hold talks before the end of next season, as Guardiola does not want to leave City in a scramble to find a new coach should he decide to leave.

In his end of season interview, the City chairman said that the conversation regarding Guardiola's future "will be had at the right time, at the right pace, and with the pace, time and framework that works for Pep."

While Guardiola has never been one to discuss his own contract situation during the season — signing a two-year extension in November 2020 was an exception to the rule — the situation is not one that fills City fans with confidence. With the current season over and a good month before pre-season starts, surely now is the time for the Catalan to lay down his future plans?

It appears that Guardiola is keeping his options open; after all, he is in unchartered territory. Before joining City, the longest he had spent in a managerial role was