A sold-out Co-op Live event next door followed Pep Guardiola’s tearful farewell at the Etihad Stadium, turning the mood to jubilation. The celebration featured a bus parade in blazing sunshine from the Northern Quarter, with the entrance itself drawing box-office attention. As the men’s and women’s team buses arrived, Rodri drank fizz and chants and songs rang out. Khadija Shaw announced she would not be leaving, and a fresh four-year contract was immediately circulated. The program included trophy presentations led by Txiki Begiristain and Vincent Kompany, with streamers and sparklers marking arrivals. Jack Grealish and Noel Gallagher drew cheers, and everyone wore Pep-themed clothing as Guardiola appeared modestly dressed.
"How to top Pep Guardiola's tearful farewell after Sunday's final match leading Manchester City against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium? Simple: 24 hours later sell out the Co-op Live next door, that can hold up to 23,500, and move the dial to jubilation and put on a ticker-tape showered show for the departing Catalan that followed the men's, women's and youth team's bus parade in blazing sunshine from the Northern Quarter. The entrance alone was box office."
"As the men's and women's team buses arrived and parked either side of the stage, Rodri swigged from a bottle of fizz, and renditions of the Bernardo, Johnny, Johnny Stones, and We've Got Guardiola songs rang out as the 55-year-old watched and laughed on. Wow mouthed the Catalan and the club's slick production even offered a live exclusive as, on-stage, City Women's Khadija Bunny' Shaw announced she would not be leaving, as had been thought the WSL's top-scorer (21 goals in 22 games) in City's title-triumph was hungry for more."
"Instantly the press release regarding a fresh four-year contract landed on correspondents' phones. The main event was as super-smooth. Txiki Begiristain, City's ex-sporting director, brought on the 2017-18 Carabao Cup the one that began it all. This was followed by Vincent Kompany, captain of the same season's first Premier League title under Guardiola. Two down and 18 of the 20 trophies (including three Community Shields) to go, the rest being paraded, too, via a prominent figure connected with each triumph, streamers and sparklers studding each's arrival on the dais."
"A shy-looking Jack Grealish (loaned last term to Everton) carrying the 2023 Uefa Super Cup drew a particular cheer as did Noel Gallagher with that December's Fifa Club World Cup. All (apart from the rockstar-cool Gallagher) wore the P for Pep clothes line marking his decade leading the club. Then, came Guardiola, modestly attired"
Read at www.theguardian.com
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