--- title: "Man City news today: Pep Guardiola, Enzo Maresca, Bournemouth game" canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/05/19/man-city-news-today-pep-guardiola-enzo-maresca-bournemouth-game/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Samuel Johnson" section: "Man City News" published: "2026-05-19T13:00:00Z" modified: "2026-05-19T13:00:00Z" --- # Man City news today: Pep Guardiola, Enzo Maresca, Bournemouth game **Pep Guardiola is set to step down as Manchester City manager, while Enzo Maresca has already been lined up as his replacement.** All this has been brought to light shortly before the Citizens take on Bournemouth in a must-win Premier League encounter. Follow all the latest news as it happens here on Read Man City. ## Pep Guardiola has had a bigger impact than Sir Alex Ferguson According to ex-Chelsea and Spurs defender Jason Cundy, Guardiola’s contributions at Man City have had a major impact on the English game as a whole. In fact, he has gone so far as to claim that Guardiola is the greatest manager the country has witnessed, ranking him above the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson. > 👀 "Pep's going to go down, probably, as the best manager this country has ever seen."\ > \ > 🔥 "He's probably had the biggest impact on English football ever."\ > \ > Jason Cundy makes the case for Pep Guardiola, not Sir Alex Ferguson, to be English footballs greatest ever manager [pic.twitter.com/5vAlO2KuCx](https://t.co/5vAlO2KuCx) > > — talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) [May 19, 2026](https://twitter.com/talkSPORT/status/2056630940911206757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “Pep’s going to go down as probably the best manager this country has ever seen,” Cundy told [talkSPORT](https://x.com/talkSPORT/status/2056630940911206757). “I think when you look at what Pep has done, I think we will reflect and go, ‘I think Pep probably is’. “I’m starting to come round to that way of thinking. Six Alex changed the face of football, I agree with that as well, but Pep probably has had the biggest impact on English football ever.” ## Jamie O’Hara calls on Man City to appoint Luis Enrique City’s decision to go for Maresca has been blasted by O’Hara, who believes that he is not close enough to Guardiola’s level. According to the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Man City should instead approach the manager who could be about to win a second successive Champions League title. > "Go and get Luis Enrique, Enzo Maresca is not a world-class manager"\ > \ > Jamie O'Hara is not "convinced" Maresca is the right choice to replace Pep\ > Guardiola at Manchester City 🔵 [pic.twitter.com/LNcpuMfUi1](https://t.co/LNcpuMfUi1) > > — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) [May 19, 2026](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/2056671615203541320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “\[I’m\] surprised to be honest,” O’Hara told [Sky Sports](https://x.com/SkySportsNews/status/2056671615203541320) when asked about Maresca going to City. “I get it, because I know he’s been there and he’s worked with Pep, but it’s a massive drop-off, there’s no two ways about it. “To replace Pep Guardiola with Enzo Maresca, you’re bringing in a manager who’s nowhere near the level of Pep. “And who’s to say Enzo Maresca can’t potentially get to a decent level? But he’s never going to be Pep. But who is Pep? What manager out there is Pep?” Instead of Maresca, O’Hara would like to see Man City make every effort to bring in Luis Enrqiue, who recently celebrated another Ligue 1 title with PSG. “For me, I would’ve gone after Luis Enrique, he continued. “If you still want to be the team in the Premier League, which Manchester City are, Arsenal are going to win it this year, but the team over the last 10 years is Manchester City. “If you want to continue that dominance, then you’ve got to have the main man, you’ve got to have the best manager. “The Premier League’s the best league, we have the best manager. Enzo Maresca ain’t the best manager.” O’Hara added: “If you’re talking about a manager out there, go and get Luis Enrique, go and get a world class manager. Enzo Maresca ain’t a world class manager.” ## Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville name Man City players in their teams of the season Pep Guardiola’s players have been recognised for their performances this campaign, with plenty included in Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher’s Premier League teams of the season. Naming his side on [Sky Sports Monday Night Football](https://x.com/SkySportsPL/status/2056444450495184943), six of Carragher’s 11 players represent Man City, while four Sky Blue stars were added to Neville’s team. > Jamie Carragher & Gary Neville reveal their Premier League Team of the Season! 👀 [pic.twitter.com/keGFfldZiE](https://t.co/keGFfldZiE) > > — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) [May 18, 2026](https://twitter.com/SkySportsPL/status/2056444450495184943?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Both ex-pros included Nico O’Reilly, Bernardo Silva, Antoine Semenyo and Erling Haaland, while Carragher named two additional players. He included Matheus Nunes at right-back, while Jeremy Doku earned a place on the left wing after a season with many sensational displays. ## Pep Guardiola organises late night phone call with Man City squad With an unanticipated update given on Guardiola’s future, the manager confirmed to his players on Monday night that he was indeed leaving, via a group call. According to [The Sun](https://www.thesun.ie/sport/16977401/pep-guardiola-man-city-players-quit-etihad-leak/), the 55-year-old is ‘furious’ that this has been reported only a day before an important match against Bournemouth. Guardiola’s players are in a ‘state of shock’, as they were told as recently as Saturday that their coach was staying for one more season. ## Pep Guardiola set to be honoured by club gesture The Etihad Stadium has three stands with generic names based on their geographic location, but this is about to change. According to [ESPN](https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/48809120/manchester-city-expect-guardiola-exit-season), Man City will be renaming one of their stands at the ground in order to honour Guardiola. Currently there is only one stand named after a figure of the club – The Colin Bell Stand. It was a fitting tribute for the club’s greatest player, and now their most successful manager will have a stand of his own. ## Man City agree deal with Enzo Marseca According to [Fabrizio Romano](https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2056633452808847612), a verbal agreement is now in place between Manchester City and Maresca. > 🚨🔵 BREAKING: Enzo Maresca has a total verbal agreement with Manchester City, HERE WE GO!\ > \ > The Italian manager has always been considered the ideal candidate to replace Pep Guardiola.\ > \ > Deal in place and Maresca will sign an initial three year deal at [#MCFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). 🇮🇹\ > \ > New era, soon. [pic.twitter.com/njb3sXRl7w](https://t.co/njb3sXRl7w) > > — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) [May 19, 2026](https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2056633452808847612?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) The Italian will sign a three-year deal at the club where he previously served as Guardiola’s assistant, with the potential to renew further down the line. Despite a number of candidates being linked with the City job, Maresca has always been considered as the club’s ‘ideal’ candidate.