Haaland pledges continued dominance as City bids farewell to Guardiola, Stones and Silva

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has declared that the club has “more to come” following a trophy parade that celebrated the 2026 FA Cup and Carabao Cup victories. The event, described by Haaland as taking place on the hottest day of the year, served as a final farewell for manager Pep Guardiola, who is leaving after a decade that yielded 20 major trophies. The parade also marked the exit of long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones, who are departing after nine and ten years at the club respectively.

Greeted by thousands of fans in the city centre, the men’s first team joined the triumphant 2025/26 Barclays Women’s Super League winners and the 2025/26 FA Youth Cup champions for the celebration. Haaland, the newly crowned Premier League Golden Boot winner, acknowledged the team’s achievements but suggested there was room for improvement. “I got the feeling we could’ve done more this season but there’s more to come,” he said, adding his confidence that there would be “an even better one in the future.”

Haaland offered effusive praise for the departing duo, describing Silva and Stones as “two legends of the club” who were “amazing on and off the pitch.” He highlighted their collective success, noting that both players had won six Premier League titles during their tenures. Reflecting on their friendship, Haaland revealed a personal anecdote, stating he remembered following Stones on Twitter when he was young, a fact he noted Stones may not be aware of.

The respect between the players was mutual, with John Stones describing Haaland as “one of the greatest players in the world if not the best in his position.” Stones emphasised Haaland’s character, stating he was “a better person than player” and that he would miss every moment spent with the Norwegian striker. The comments underscore the strong bonds formed during the club’s most successful period under Guardiola’s leadership.

The parade concluded with an after-party at the Co-Op, allowing fans to celebrate the club’s eighth FA Cup success. As the city bids adieu to its managerial and player legends, Haaland’s comments signal a clear intent to maintain Manchester City’s competitive edge. The club now looks to build on the foundation laid by Guardiola, Silva and Stones, with Haaland leading the charge in what he predicts will be an even more successful era.