--- title: "Man City news today: Pep Guardiola press conference, England World Cup squad, Elliot Anderson agrees deal" canonical: "https://readmancity.com/2026/05/22/man-city-news-today-pep-guardiola-press-conference-england-world-cup-squad-elliot-anderson-agrees-deal/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Samuel Johnson" section: "Man City News" published: "2026-05-22T15:00:00Z" modified: "2026-05-22T15:15:28Z" --- # Man City news today: Pep Guardiola press conference, England World Cup squad, Elliot Anderson agrees deal Pep Guardiola has announced that he will leave Manchester City, while the club have moved one step closer to signing Elliot Anderson. Read about all the news as it happens here on Read Man City. ## Pep Guardiola wants a proper goodbye It would be nice for Guardiola to go out on a victory, but the result against Aston Villa is a secondary concern. The most important thing for the 55-year-old is being able to bid his team farewell, in front of a record crowd at the Etihad Stadium. And it is for this reason that Guardiola decided it was best to [announce his departure](https://readmancity.com/2026/05/22/pep-guardiola-confirms-man-city-exit-after-unforgettable-10-years/) before his final fixture at the club. > 🗣️ "I want to say a proper goodbye, hug of all them \[players and staff\]\ > \ > Pep Guardiola discusses managing his last game as Manchester City head coach against Aston Villa. [pic.twitter.com/hmvqmIRJcz](https://t.co/hmvqmIRJcz) > > — Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) [May 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/2057805470623007044?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) He said in his [pre-match press conference](https://www.youtube.com/live/SkNVglH8ZIE): “It’s not about when, it’s not today or tomorrow. You know at the time, you feel okay let’s do it. It’s not yesterday that it happened or one week ago. “Of course we were in the competition and I wanted to be completely away from \[thinking about leaving\] because I need the players to be with me and me with them. “At the moment, we cannot fight for anything else because it’s already achieved so it is the moment to say, okay I want to say a proper goodbye to my people on Sunday, I want to hug them on the pitch, that is why we announced it.” ## Man City announce stand and statue plans In order to honour Guardiola’s legacy, Man City have made the decision to build Guardiola a statue outside the Etihad Stadium. Additionally, he will have the North stand at the Etihad Stadium named after him, following in the footsteps of the great Colin Bell. Speaking about the new stand, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak told [Man City’s official website](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/manchester-city-etihad-stand-renaming-63915045): “The Pep Guardiola Stand, and the statue that will sit outside it, rightly ensure that Pep’s legacy will remain forever woven into the fabric of this football club, the city of Manchester and English football. “The unique relationship that he has with our fans has been earned through the honesty and passion of his ten seasons fighting to bring them success. “The Pep Guardiola Stand is a fitting and permanent reminder of that relationship, the most successful period in our Club’s history, and the unique football genius at its heart.” Reacting to the decision in his [pre-match press conference](https://www.youtube.com/live/SkNVglH8ZIE), Guardiola said: “Khaldoon called me this morning to say that the club took that decision. I have no words. I like the feeling that my vibe or my energy will be there forever. So I like that feeling.” ## Micah Richards calls Pep Guardiola the greatest manager in the modern era Wilf Wild’s achievement as Man City’s longest-serving manager will remain intact, but Guardiola has been the most impactful boss the Citizens have ever had. Micah Richards has even gone as far to say that Guardiola is the best manager of the modern era, comparing him with Sir Alex Ferguson. He told [BBC Sport](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn4pg3egw43o): “He’s a true legend of the game, and I am gutted he is going – the Premier League just won’t be the same without him. Pep is one of the best managers we’ve ever seen. The greatest ever? Well, it’s hard to disrespect Sir Alex Ferguson when you have that conversation, but those were different times – Pep’s the greatest manager of the modern era, that’s for sure. “If you look at what they both won – and I know everyone will read this and say City have spent more, which I get – then Pep has won a Treble at Barcelona and a Treble with City. That’s incredible in itself,” Richards continued. “But the biggest difference between the two is that ‘Fergie’ was a great manager but Pep is the greatest coach. “He has transformed the way football is played in England in a way that no-one has ever done before. “I played against Fergie’s teams and the way he galvanised them was incredible. “Facing them was horrible because you knew something special could happen and they would fight to the end, and that’s coming from someone who played for City. He did it with loads of different sides too.” He added: But as a pundit I’ve analysed dozens of Pep’s games, and he’s a genius. It’s as simple as that. ## Pep Guardiola announces his Man City exit Speaking to [Man City’s official website](https://www.mancity.com/news/mens/pep-guardiola-official-announcement-63915039?utm_source=x&utm_medium=organic_social), Guardiola paid tribute to the club’s supporters, as well as the city of Manchester as a whole. “When I arrived, my first interview was with Noel Gallagher. I walked out thinking, ‘Okay… Noel is here? This will be fun,’” Guardiola said. “And what a time we have had together. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal, if it was, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City. “This is a city built from work. From graft. You see it in the colour of the bricks. From people who clocked in early, stayed late. The factories. The Pankhursts. The unions. The music. Simply the Industrial Revolution and how this changed the world. And I think I grew to understand that, and my teams did too,” he continued. “We worked. We suffered. We fought. And we did things our own way. Our way. > "What a time we have had together." 🩵 [pic.twitter.com/WpkFecBYT4](https://t.co/WpkFecBYT4) > > — Manchester City (@ManCity) [May 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/ManCity/status/2057765929799348410?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) “Hard work comes in many forms. Trips to Bournemouth, when we lost the Premier League, and you were there. Trips to Istanbul, when you were there, too. “Remember, the Manchester Arena attack, when this city showed the world what strength actually looks like? Not anger. Not fear. Just love. Community. Togetherness.  A city united.” Turning his attention to Man City’s supporters, Guardiola said: “Remember, losing my mum during COVID and feeling this club carry me through it. “The fans, the staff, the people of Manchester, you gave me strength when I needed it most. Cris, my kids, my whole family, you were there as always. Khaldoon, you were there too. “Players don’t forget – every single instant, moment, me, my staff, this club, everything. What we have done, we have done it for all of you. And you have been just exceptional. You don’t know it yet, but you are leaving a legacy. “So as my time comes to an end, be happy. Oasis are back again. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for trusting me. Thank you for pushing me. Thank you for loving me. “Tony Walsh said in his unforgettable poem this is the place. I’m sorry, Tony: this is my place. Noel…I was right. It has been so f\*\*\*\*\*\* fun. “Love you all.” ## Paul Merson predicts Man City to beat Aston Villa Despite City’s motivation to win being snatched away in midweek, Paul Merson still expects them to comfortably defeat Aston Villa. After all, Unai Emery’s team have just won the Europa League, and so celebrating that success has likely been prioritised over working towards the weekend. “We always talk about timings in football. I always thought this would be Manchester City’s easiest game in the run-in towards the end of the season,” Merson told [Sportskeeda](https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/news-paul-merson-predicts-liverpool-vs-brentford-tottenham-vs-everton-premier-league-gw38-fixtures). “That’s because I expected Aston Villa to win the Europa League and they will still be celebrating. “The season is done for Villa. It has been an incredible one. Finishing inside the top five and winning the Europa League, brilliant.” He added: “They deserve to celebrate this achievement and I don’t expect them to take this game against City too seriously.” #### Merson’s prediction: Manchester City 3-0 Aston Villa ## Four Man City players named in England World Cup squad Thomas Tuchel has selected James Trafford to go to the World Cup, even though he has only played three matches in the Premier League this season. On the other hand, Trafford has started in two domestic cup finals. Better still, he kept clean sheets in both. > Come Together. [pic.twitter.com/BAsCH4YCjx](https://t.co/BAsCH4YCjx) > > — England (@England) [May 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/England/status/2057748306839622050?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly have also been chosen, although this is not at all surprising considering their performances this season. Finally, John Stones has made the cut. His starts have been limited too, during a season where injury concerns just keep on recurring. ## Man City agree personal terms to sign Elliot Anderson [Nicolo Schira](https://x.com/NicoSchira/status/2057688344134369786) has reported that Man City have an agreement in principle with Anderson which will see him sign a five-year contract, keeping him there until 2031. However, the Sky Blues still need to agree a transfer fee with Nottingham Forest, which could prove tricky. > 🚨 Excl. – Agreement in principle between [#ManchesterCity](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ManchesterCity?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) and Elliot [#Anderson](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Anderson?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) for a contract until 2031. [#MCFC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MCFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) are now working to reach an agreement with [#NottinghamForest](https://twitter.com/hashtag/NottinghamForest?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) to sign the midfielder. [#transfers](https://twitter.com/hashtag/transfers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) [https://t.co/kg5DOwfzwC](https://t.co/kg5DOwfzwC) > > — Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) [May 22, 2026](https://twitter.com/NicoSchira/status/2057688344134369786?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) After all, Evangelos Marinakis has shown himself to play hardball, and in some cases, he refuses to sell his players entirely. Morgan Gibbs-White’s failed move to Tottenham certainly comes to mind. There is no official confirmation on how much Forest will demand for their star player, but the rumours are that it could be anything between £65m and £120m.