Manchester City could face changes in Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff next season as Carlos Vicens, the assistant coach, is being targeted by Portuguese club Braga for a managerial role. Despite City’s failure to secure the Premier League title this season, interest in both their players and staff remains high. Braga, under ambitious ownership, are looking to close the gap at the top of Portuguese football and see Vicens as a key figure in achieving this goal.
Pep Guardiola said: “I said to the club I don’t want that [a bigger squad]. I don’t want to leave five or six players in the freezer. I don’t want that. I will quit. If they make a shorter squad I will stay. It’s impossible for my soul to give my players in the tribune that they cannot play. Maybe for three or four months we couldn’t select 11 players, we didn’t have defenders, it was so difficult. As a manager I cannot train 24 players and every time I select I have to have four, five, six stay in Manchester at home because they cannot play. This is not going to happen. I said to the club I don’t want that.”
Carlos Vicens, who is 42 years old, has never managed a first team but has built a strong reputation at Manchester City. He joined the club as an academy coach in 2017 and took over the Under-18s in 2020, leading them to their first FA Youth Cup victory in 12 years. Since then, he has been a key part of Guardiola’s coaching team. Although City would not consider any approach for Vicens while their season is ongoing, they have previously shown a willingness to allow staff to pursue other opportunities.
Guardiola delighted the club’s hierarchy earlier this season by agreeing to a contract extension that will keep him at the Etihad until 2027. However, he has expressed concerns about maintaining a large squad, stating that it would be ‘impossible for his soul’ to leave players out of matchday squads.
As Braga seeks to strengthen their position in Portuguese football, Vicens’ potential departure could mark a significant change for Manchester City. The club’s ability to adapt to these changes will be crucial as they aim to reclaim their dominance in the Premier League.
