For Manchester City fans. For the players, the staff, indeed anyone connected to the club, this was a double blow so many - if not all - had been dreading. A draw at Dean Court - and with it their title hopes gone - was bad enough. But in the lead-up, the leak that had filtered it's way to the morning press was so, so much worse. Pep would be stepping down. Nine years. Nine glorious, trophy-laden years. An era - the greatest of eras for Manchester City - was over.
Over these last 24 hours, for his part, Guardiola has had every right to be furious. This leak robbed the manager of the opportunity to break the news to his players first. Many were blindsided. There was certainly no hint from Guardiola in the lead-up. Indeed, even those responsible for publishing the leak had been leaning the other way in their reporting before Tuesday's bombshell.
On the continent, of course, the exit story was gathering pace. Not only in Guardiola's native Spain, but also in Italy, where his now (almost) confirmed successor, Enzo Maresca, enjoys a heightened profile. Indeed, in the country as a guest for the Telenord-Gianni Di Marzio prize ceremony last Monday, Maresca refused to deny an agreement with City on stage. Those close to him would later in the day let it be known that the job was his - should Guardiola decide to step down.
So something was afoot. Though it had been for months. Guardiola, as always had been the case, letting City's top brass know of his thinking, his doubts. Credit to all concerned that such an agreement had been struck with Maresca which would allow Guardiola the time and space to make a definitive, final decision - without the club being caught out.
But that's typical City. Certainly, it's typical of Pep Guardiola's City. Always organised. Always on top of things. Involving people willing to put the club first. While the agreement was in place, Maresca had no guarantee the job was his. The Italian happy to leave things until Guardiola made his choice, one way or the other.
As we say, Guardiola leaves City and the Premier League much better off than when he arrived. He's taken City to a new level. The Sky Blues are now a Champions League club. A global club. One whose popularity stretches to the world's four corners. It wasn't just about the trophies. The triumphs. It was also about how it was achieved. The style. The entertainment. And by characters fans could admire. And all driven by Guardiola.
Premier League transformed Pep
But this was no one-way street. The manager who leaves City is a very different coach to the one whom arrived nine years ago. Four years with Barcelona and three with Bayern Munich. But nothing shaped Guardiola's coaching and his approach to management like the Premier League. The English game brought the best out Guardiola. He was forced to adapt. Adjust. Even transform. The tiki-taka of his Barca has long gone. Even the possession game has had to undergo major, major changes. Six Premier League titles in nine years is an incredible record, but it was achieved by a manager who was continually put through the wringer by a competition that is relentless, ruthless - particularly for those involved at it's top end.
Of course, money helps. The spending power. The record fees. It allowed Guardiola to fix mistakes. To accelerate team development. But critics would be wrong to brand Guardiola's success down to City's cheque-book.
He built teams. Dressing rooms. Careers. And he did so always with a nod to his La Masia background. It wasn't always easy, but Guardiola would find a way to bring through academy talent. Not to make up the numbers, but always to make a key impact. Phil Foden, Rico Lewis and Nico O'Reilly now carry the mantel. He transformed the English footballer - at least the one willing to buy into his methods. Kyle Walker. John Stones. Raheem Sterling... Fabian Delph. They all played their best football under Guardiola. As has so many more.
And they were good 'uns. Actual genuine role-models. David Silva. Vincent Kompany. Bernardo Silva. Not just club captains, but men to represent the best of Manchester City. The best of Pep Guardiola, himself. It's why when any certain individual failed to live up to the manager's standards he stood out like a sore thumb. He just didn't fit - and would soon be on his way.
So an era now comes to an end. But it's only for the manager - not Manchester City. And perhaps, beyond the trophies, the memories, this could be Guardiola's greatest managerial achievement.
He leaves City primed for a new winning period. A team whose best years are way, way ahead of them. Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi have been outstanding since their January arrivals. Pep likened Jeremy Doku to Lamine Yamal and Vinicius Junior just last week. This isn't Sir Alex leaving United, nor Klopp quitting on Liverpool. Guardiola leaves a squad full of youth, energy and ambition. A title-challenging team at the beginning of their cycle. The manager couldn't be handing things over in better shape.
And that's including the man who will succeed him. Again, youth is on the side of Maresca. But beyond that, he knows the club, the staff and what makes it tick. And he's a proven winner. A manager who worked side-by-side with Guardiola over two different periods.
Guardiola leaves Manchester City as their greatest. Six league titles. A Champions League and Club World Cup. Three FA Cups and five League Cups - and significantly the last of those two Cups achieved in this final season and with this young, hungry team.
The Pep Guardiola era is coming to an end. But for Manchester City, a new era, an exciting era, is about to begin.