"Why do you love me so much?" - Pep breaks down in emotional City farewell

The result no longer mattered. Neither did the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa. As the final whistle echoed around the Etihad, this was no longer about one match, one season or even one era.

It was about goodbye.

An emotional Pep Guardiola stood in front of the Manchester City supporters one final time as manager, fighting back nerves and tears while the stadium poured its love onto the man who transformed the club forever.

"I'm so nervous right now," Guardiola admitted with a smile. "Why do you love me so much? Why do you do that to me?"

For a decade, Guardiola turned City into football's defining machine, collecting trophies at a historic rate and reshaping the club's identity entirely. But on Sunday night, the relentless perfectionist looked overwhelmed not by pressure, but by emotion.

"I never imagined this amount of love," he told the crowd. "It has been an incredible, tremendous honour to be your manager for 10 years."

The moment became even more personal when Guardiola looked toward the stands and spotted his 95-year-old father watching him.

"My dad is here today… wow," he said, pausing as the stadium roared again. "Maybe he doesn't realise it now, but one day this stand will have my family's name on it. That is the hugest honour."

The Catalan leaves behind much more than silverware. He leaves a standard, a culture and a version of Manchester City that barely seemed imaginable before his arrival. And even in farewell, Guardiola could not resist one final joke mixed with one final warning.

"The players don't know it yet," he laughed, "but I'll still be up there in the Pep Guardiola Stand controlling them!"

Then came the emotional challenge to the next generation.

"The players have a huge responsibility to continue these standards. Fight and fight and fight. This is my home."

As chants rolled around the Etihad and supporters struggled to accept the end of an era, Guardiola delivered one final message that sounded less like a goodbye and more like a lifelong bond.

"Wherever you see me in the world, if you're a City fan, come to me," he said. "Every decision I made was for this club. I love you so much. It has been fun."

PREMIER LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 38

Brighton - Manchester United 0-3 (0-3)

/Dorgu 33, Mbeumo 44, Bruno 48/

Burnley - Wolves 1-1 (0-1)

/Flemming 47 - Armstrong 5 pen/

Crystal Palace - Arsenal 1-2 (0-1)

/Mateta 89 - Jesus 42, Madueke 48/

Fuhlam - Newcastle 2-0 (1-0)

/Diop 20, Cairney 80/

Liverpool - Brentford 1-1 (0-0)

/Jones 58 - Schade 64/

Manchester City - Aston Vila 1-2 (1-0)

/Semenyo 23 - Watkins 47, 60/

Nottingham Forest - Bournemouth 1-1 (1-0)

/Gibbs-White 34, Tavernier 54/

Sunderland - Chelsea 2-1 (1-0)

/Hume 25, Gusto 50 og - Palmer 56/

Tottenham - Everton 1-0 (1-0)

/Palhinha 44/

West Ham - Leeds United 3-0 (1-0)

/Castellanos 67, Bowen 79, Wilson 90+3/