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“I came for three years and said, ‘Let’s see what happens,’” Pep Guardiola reflected. “And the rest is history.” On Sunday, that history will reach its closing chapter — a decade that brought 20 trophies, countless records, and achievements that have earned him both a stand named in his honour and a statue to commemorate his legacy. Guardiola will step down as Manchester City manager following Sunday’s match against Aston Villa. His 94-year-old father will be in attendance, as will goalkeeper Ederson, whose crucial saves helped secure the 2023 Champions League title. For Guardiola, the moment is one of reflection and gratitude.

“It has been maybe the experience of my life,” Guardiola admitted. Sunday’s fixture carries no Premier League title implications, but it offers one last chance to savour the moment. “I want to say a proper goodbye to my people on Sunday. I want to hug them, all of them, on the pitch,” he added.

Although Guardiola’s career is measured in medals, this week his focus has been on the messages he’s received. Sir Alex Ferguson, Kevin De Bruyne, and Manuel Akanji were among those who reached out. Guardiola confessed he will need to call Ferguson back — the Scottish accent on the voice note was too strong to fully understand. Dismissing claims that he is the greatest manager ever, Guardiola instead paid tribute to Ferguson.

“He’s the greatest in this country,” Guardiola said. “I miss Johan Cruyff a lot, who’s not able to witness what we live. I’m happy that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest, could.” Guardiola has undeniably shifted the balance of footballing power in Manchester towards City, and he knows what Ferguson once called them. Now, he believes it’s time to drop that old label.

“Sir Alex, we are not the noisy neighbours,” Guardiola declared. “We are the neighbours — just the neighbours.” With six Premier League titles in ten years, City have plenty of reason to make themselves heard. Yet, in his final days, Guardiola’s focus has turned to people rather than trophies. “Being a manager, you have to win, and that’s why I’ve been here 10 years. But beyond that, it’s about the relationships. That’s why the phone call from Kevin means everything to me.”

When the expanded North Stand at the Etihad Stadium is renamed the Pep Guardiola Stand, it will carry deep personal significance. Guardiola said he is pleased that his father, Valenti, will see their family name there. “I like to feel that my vibe or my energy will be there forever,” he said.

Still, Guardiola insists the time is right to move on. His long-time rival Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool after admitting he no longer had the energy to continue — a sentiment Guardiola shares. “I feel I would not have the energy that is required [to continue],” he explained. “I think the club needs a new manager, new energy. Time to start another chapter. It’s not good for an organisation to have the same people for too many years. It’s good to shake things up, to bring in a new face.”

The likely new face is Enzo Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant. At 55, Guardiola has no immediate plans for another job. For nearly two decades, apart from his one-year sabbatical in New York in 2012-13, he has lived a life dictated by matches every three days.

Now, his schedule is empty. “Now rest,” he said. “No plans to coach for a while. I need to live my life and see what happens. I need to breathe a bit and relax. I’ll be away for a while.”

Whether Guardiola can truly switch off — given his famously intense nature — remains uncertain. Even though he departs without a Premier League crown this season, he leaves after winning both domestic cups and making notable strides in rebuilding the team. “It’s the perfect moment, the perfect time,” he said. “Much better than last season, for example.”

Guardiola might have considered leaving last season, but a run of nine defeats in 12 matches — the most difficult spell of his career — delayed that decision. Now, he departs on a high, confident in the team Maresca will inherit. “The institution has incredible health, so it’s in a good position,” he said. The hardest part, he admitted, was breaking the news to his players. “The speech was a disaster. I was so nervous,” he confessed.

There was life at Manchester City before Guardiola, and he recognises that. “So, 93 minutes, 20 seconds — that goal is the biggest moment in this club’s history,” he said, referring to Sergio Aguero’s dramatic title-winning strike in 2012. “And that is legacy.”

But Guardiola leaves behind a legacy of his own. He has transformed City’s history and identity, and his affection for Manchester grew along the way — even forming a friendship with Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher.

“There’s one sentence that comes to mind from a chat with Noel Gallagher,” Guardiola recalled. “He said once: ‘Many years ago, we were a team that couldn’t win four games in a row. And now we’re winning four Premier Leagues in a row.’ And I thought, ‘Wow, that’s a great line.’” It feels like the perfect final remark. Now, for both Guardiola and Manchester City, a new chapter begins.