Former England international Michael Owen has declared Pep Guardiola’s contract extension at Manchester City as the “worst possible news” for Premier League title hopefuls. Guardiola, who began his tenure in 2016, has overseen an era of dominance, clinching six Premier League titles, including an unmatched streak of four consecutive championships.

As Manchester City trails Liverpool by five points in the current league standings, Owen remains convinced that Guardiola’s extended stay at the Etihad poses a significant hurdle for rival clubs. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Owen said, “The worst possible news for teams with aspirations of winning The Premier League – Pep Guardiola has signed a contract extension.”

However, football icon Alan Shearer has raised concerns about the challenges Guardiola faces in managing an ageing squad. Speaking to BetFair, Shearer highlighted that several key players, including Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva, Mateo Kovacic, Ilkay Gundogan, Kyle Walker, Ederson, and John Stones, are over 30, suggesting the team might face natural decline.

“Looking through their current squad, you’ve got a significant number of players who could be considered in a state of natural decline,” Shearer noted.

Guardiola’s contract renewal comes after a historic season where Manchester City not only won the Premier League but also claimed their first-ever Champions League trophy. Despite this success, Guardiola now faces the challenge of maintaining City’s dominance while reshaping an ageing roster.

As the season progresses, football fans and rivals will closely watch how Guardiola manages this transition while keeping City at the forefront of English football.