Pep Guardiola has made clear he will play no role in guiding Manchester City toward his eventual replacement, insisting the club cannot simply replicate his methods when the time comes for a new manager to take charge.

The City boss stated plainly that he will not offer recommendations on who should succeed him, leaving the decision entirely in the hands of the club's hierarchy. "You can't copy and paste," Guardiola indicated, suggesting his approach is too specific to his own vision to be transferred wholesale to an incoming coach.

The remarks underline the scale of the challenge City will face whenever the Guardiola era draws to a close. Since his arrival, the club have reshaped English and European football, winning multiple Premier League titles and the UEFA Champions League. Finding a manager capable of sustaining that level of success — without the blueprint Guardiola might provide — represents one of the most consequential appointments in the game.

Guardiola has offered no timeline on his departure, but the question of succession has grown louder as City navigate what has been a difficult and turbulent season by their own extraordinary standards. The manager's refusal to weigh in on a potential replacement signals a clean break when the moment arrives, with the club left to chart its own course.