Pep Guardiola: Peter Crouch says Manchester City boss ‘may regret’ signing new contract - 'I worry for his health'

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Pep Guardiola's Manchester City have endured an unfamiliarly difficult 2024/25 campaign, though all is not lost with nine Premier League games remaining. City remain in the hunt for a top-five finish and could salvage their season with FA Cup success in May. However, TNT Sports pundit Peter Crouch fears the Spaniard may regret signing a new contract to stay at the club until at least 2027.

Does Guardiola ‘regret’ signing new Man City deal?

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TNT Sports expert Peter Crouch feels Pep Guardiola "may regret" extending his stay as Manchester City manager for another two years.

Guardiola's previous contract was set to expire at the end of the season, but the Spaniard ended uncertainty over his future in November, signing a new deal which will see him remain in his role until 2027.

The news came amid City's worst-ever run of form under Guardiola, and the Premier League champions' struggles have since continued, exiting the UEFA Champions League at the play-off stage and sitting fifth in the Premier League table.

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Crouch is concerned that rebuilding City's squad may be a big ask for Guardiola.

"I think he may regret signing a new deal," said Crouch. "I think he doesn't want to leave the club, he has created a dynasty, hasn't he?

"He has created something incredible, listen he has done well.

"I worry for his health, genuinely, because I think there is a big job on his hands here.

"They have got top players if they rediscover form. I think, defensively, Kyle Walker saved them on multiple occasions in the UEFA Champions League with his pace.

"I think there is a personnel overhaul needed."

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The race for a place in next season's Champions League is heating up ahead of the resumption of the Premier League next month.

With the Premier League set to receive a fifth spot in the Champions League due to the UEFA coefficient rankings, City's current positioning would be enough to seal a spot in next year's competition.

But the 2023 Champions League winners are tightly locked in a congested race for fifth spot, with just three points separating them and ninth-placed Aston Villa.

Crouch's fellow TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand said City's unfamiliarly low placing "looks like it is stressing the life" out of Guardiola.

"I don't think he can do it any other way than fully high octane," said Ferdinand.

"There is no other way, he is 100% invested and it looks like it is stressing the life out of him, even when he is winning it looks like that.

"Just because he is losing we are scrutinising him and maybe it looks a bit worse.

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"He has just never been in this position where he is looking up and scratching and clawing to stay in amongst it, let alone win it [the Premier League].

"He has never been there, so that is one question he is going to have to answer next season. I think he has got the energy, but I think his team lacks the energy."

Martin Keown echoed Ferdinand's sentiments, insisting that Guardiola may not be happy with his squad, despite bolstering his squad in a busy January transfer window.

"What have they spent, £180 million? And have they really improved that much?" added Keown.

"I think he is just unhappy with the group he has got and when they are not following he goes in a different direction.

"He has only had one season where he hasn't won a trophy and we could be there again."

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