Pep Guardiola has never been in a crisis like this. Now could be the truest test of his glittering career.
There’s no doubt about the Spaniard’s greatness as a manager. He’s won it all multiple times in England and Spain, as well as domestically in Germany. Whatever happens from here, history will remember him as one of the best managers that football has ever seen.
But this is a different examination of his credentials. When he came through at Barcelona as a coach, the club had the tools to be the top club in Europe.
At Bayern Munich, he was at the biggest club in Germany and everything in place after the club had just won the treble. When he arrived at Manchester City, the club had been building a squad and football infrastructure for him to excel in – and my word has he done so.
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But now he’s suffering the first crisis of his managerial career. City have won one game in 10 matches. Even when you write that down multiple times, you still need to check it because it is so unbelievable.
He’s never been in charge of a team looking so out of sorts. Can he fix it? We will see. It has been a long time since they’ve gone into a Manchester derby in such a dire run.
Yet if Guardiola can somehow salvage something from this season then rebuild City into a title-winning force again next term it might be his biggest success story.
(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Yes, critics will say it is a much easier task with City’s financial wealth and they do have Rodri to come back in the summer plus top players like Erling Haaland who are just out of form rather than finished.
But there’s a construction job needed on this City side for the first time in a long time. Guardiola has always had the financial wealth behind him to succeed. So if we praise him for winning the Treble, then we have to laud him for bringing this City side back to the top if he achieves it.
But it won’t be easy. There’s the chance the likes of Kevin de Bruyne and Kyle Walker move on next summer while who knows if Rodri will be straight up to speed.
First though, he must arrest their current form. Starting tomorrow against Manchester United. The Premier League title is gone, that’s for sure.
Liverpool are looking too good and then there’s Arsenal and Chelsea also in contention and ready to strike should the Reds slip up. But there’s still a Champions League on offer and an FA Cup.
Of course, City first must get through in Europe and they’re precariously close to slipping outside of the top 24. The season is not over yet so can Guardiola solve the first real crisis of his coaching career? It will be fascinating to see.
But who knows what will happen tomorrow between two sides who look in bother. Could be any score.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
ENGLAND ON EASY STREET
England fans can start booking their flights to the USA already. Not that it would ever be in doubt, of course.
But what an easy touch of a group for new boss Thomas Tuchel to land. The Three Lions will face Serbia, Albania, Latvia and Andorra.
Serbia the only tricky tie really but with England’s squad strength it won’t be much to worry about. That at least gives Tuchel plenty of room to experiment with his squads and team selections ahead of the trip to States in 2026.
Just what Tuchel will relish as he begins his job next month. It is going to be interesting to see how he approaches it.
(Image: PA)
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