Guardiola, who will leave City after Sundays Premier League match against Aston Villa, ends a 10-year spell in charge that delivered six league titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
Former City assistant Enzo Maresca has emerged as a leading candidate to take over at the Etihad Stadium. Maresca previously worked under Guardiola before managing Chelsea and Leicester City.
Asked whether he had advised the club on its search for a new manager, Guardiola said the next coach must bring his own identity rather than attempt to replicate his methods.
"It doesn't work to copy and paste in this kind of job,” Guardiola told reporters ahead of his final league game.
"You have to be unique, natural and yourself and the new manager will be himself,” he added. :The moment it starts to be a copy of another one, everyone is everyone. It has to be like that."
Guardiola also said he did not expect to play a role in choosing his successor and suggested the club should move forward independently after his departure.
The Spaniard leaves Manchester City while the club is still awaiting the outcome of the Premier League's case over 115 alleged breaches of financial regulations. City have denied wrongdoing.
Guardiola again backed the club, saying he remained confident about the eventual outcome.
"Because I trust them," he said. "I spoke with them and I trust how they behave and what they did. There will be a resolution.
The 55-year-old also reiterated plans to take a break from football after leaving City. Although he has been linked with future international management roles, Guardiola said he intends to rest and spend time with his family before considering another job.
"I don't have any absolute plan about my future except to rest," he said. "I need to recover time that I missed with my kids and do things I haven't done in the past.
Arsenal signed off their historic Premier League-winning campaign with a 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, but the football quickly became secondary to the celebrations that followed.
Aston Villa failed to read the script as they put on a superlative second-half performance to beat Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad on the final day of the Premier League on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola has confirmed he is stepping down as manager of Manchester City after Sunday's final game of the season against Aston Villa, bringing his glittering career with the Citizens to an end.
Manchester City defender John Stones has admitted he never imagined he would achieve so much when he first arrived at the club nearly a decade ago.
