Furious Pep Guardiola summons Man City stars in late-night summit to confirm exit

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Pep Guardiola is said to be furious that news of his Manchester City exit was broken on the eve of a seismic game in the title race as he was forced to confirm his departure to players in a late night phonecall.

After weeks of speculation that the 55-year-old may walk away from The Etihad after a trophy-laden decade, it emerged on Monday night that this weekend's home game against Aston Villa will indeed be Guardiola 's last at the helm of Manchester City . Enzo Maresca is poised to replace his former mentor as the club's new head coach.

Guardiola will walk off into the sunset as one of the Premier League's all-time managerial greats after guiding City to six league titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and Champions League glory.

He could yet clinch a seventh Premier League title if City win both of their remaining games and Arsenal slip up at Crystal Palace on Sunday - and the fact news of his departure broke on the eve of a must-win match against Bournemouth has reportedly angered the Spaniard.

A source told The Sun : “Pep is furious at the timing just before a game.

“He summoned the players to join a late night group call and confirmed he was leaving. He apologised for the way the news emerged. It took him by surprise.

“The players were told as recently as Saturday that he wasn’t going so everyone is in a state of shock.”

Gary Neville had predicted that Guardiola would be unhappy over the fact that news of his impending exit had broken on the eve of a huge game in the title race.

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“I'm surprised that it's broken right now," he said on Sky Sports . “Not just because it's during [ Arsenal vs Burnley ] but it's the night before a Man City game. Something like that is gamechanger news.

“I think of being in school and the news of Kenny Dalglish leaving Liverpool , or Sir Alex Ferguson leaving Man Utd and Jurgen Klopp leaving Liverpool recently.

“They're just such huge moments in football, and I don't see it's news Man City would let get out or would want out. If it is true, Man City will be extremely disappointed that has broken now and so will Pep Guardiola .”