This week's soccer questions: Manchester City's next steps, and is Messi peaking at the perfect time?

Guardiola’s potential final match as Manchester City manager would end a decade marked by six Premier League titles and 20 trophies. His success is tied to tactical precision, training methods, and technical details, along with difficult-to-replace intangibles. While City still has a strong squad and can win more after his departure, the Etihad and the Premier League are expected to feel different without his presence. The challenge of replacing a dominant manager is illustrated by other transitions, including struggles after Ferguson, Wenger, and Klopp. The piece also shifts to Lionel Messi, suggesting he may be preparing for a final World Cup run, while noting he has not confirmed an Argentina call-up.

"If Sunday's final game of the season against Aston Villa is indeed to be Guardiola's last match as City boss, he will leave behind a glittering legacy six Premier League titles and 20 trophies over 10 seasons. He will also leave behind an impossible job for whoever (expected to be Enzo Maresca) succeeds him. Replacing such a dominant figure won't be easy. City need only look at the struggles of some of their rivals when faced with a similar challenge."

"So much of Guardiola's City success has been down to the details the tactics, the training sessions, the technicality. The intangibles, however, will be the most difficult thing to replace. As long as Guardiola was in the dugout, Manchester City had an aura. Something to be feared. Something that said Guardiola would ultimately find a way to win."

"Of course, City still boast one of the strongest squads anywhere in world soccer, even if they are midway through a rebuild. Manchester City won titles and trophies before Guardiola and they should win more after he's gone. And yet the Etihad Stadium will be a different place without the greatest manager of his generation there, as will the Premier League."

"Anyone who watched Inter Miami's match against the Portland Timbers on Sunday saw that. He's peaking at the right tim"

Read at www.theguardian.com