Man City's Pep Guardiola exit plan as Erling Haaland drops revealing hint

Erling Haaland has dropped an intriguing hint about Pep Guardiola as speculation ramps up about a possible Manchester City departure

Manchester City may take a leaf out of Manchester United's book when Pep Guardiola eventually leaves the club.

That's according to Wayne Rooney, who reckons Guardiola will have a major say in who replaces him in the Etihad Stadium hotseat, just as Sir Alex Ferguson did when he stepped down as United boss.

"Pep will probably choose the next manager," the former England striker said on The Wayne Rooney Show. "If he is going, he will probably be part of the process to choose the next one.

"I just think in terms of Pep, he looks at himself as a bit of a teacher, and he has been at the club for 10 years, he will want to leave the club in a good place."

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When Sir Alex decided to retire in 2013, he effectively spearheaded Man United's search for his successor. Efforts to lure Jose Mourinho and Guardiola to Old Trafford ultimately failed, leading Ferguson to hand-pick David Moyes instead.

Guardiola's City contract still has another year-and-a-half left to run, but speculation continues to grow that the Spaniard's tenure in Manchester could end sooner rather than later. This week, Erling Haaland only fuelled that uncertainty, appearing to hint that the squad may already be bracing itself for a future without their manager.

"When I talk about good people around me, it's not just my friends but the people at the club. I'm lucky to be at a club with so many good people, and with Pep, who pushes us every single day," the City striker told TNT Sports.

"I'm lucky to have worked with Pep for three-and-a-half years. It's been an amazing time, as we all know, and no matter what happens in the future, we still need to keep pushing. I need to keep pushing myself and others around me to get better."

With uncertainty continuing to cloud Guardiola's future, City are understood to be assessing potential replacements. A few months ago, reports suggested that former City coach Enzo Maresca - then in charge of Chelsea - was under consideration for the role.

Other names to have been linked include former Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso, Como head coach Cesc Fabregas and PSG boss Luis Enrique. However, Rooney believes there is one standout candidate. "If Pep does go, they have to go and get [Bayern Munich boss] Vincent Kompany," he said.

"He knows the club; he has been successful with Bayern in a similar way. It looks like he has learned from Pep."

Over the past decade at Man City, Guardiola has presided over one of the most dominant spells in English football history. During his tenure, City have lifted six Premier League titles, six domestic cups and the Champions League, completing a historic Treble in 2023. They also became the first side in English top-flight history to amass 100 points in a single league campaign.

Only Sir Alex Ferguson has won more English league titles, and Guardiola needs just one more to surpass Bob Paisley and George Ramsay, who claimed six apiece with Liverpool and Aston Villa, respectively.

Trying to emulate Ferguson's achievements is one thing, but copying his blueprint may not be the wisest course. The decision to follow his recommendation and appoint Moyes as his successor at Man United proved disastrous: Moyes was dismissed after just 10 months in charge, with United finishing seventh - at the time their lowest Premier League placing.

City will be determined not to stumble into a similar void when Guardiola's reign eventually ends. Given the scale of the former Barcelona coach's influence and the standards he has embedded over the past decade, City cannot afford a misstep when the moment of succession finally arrives.