Anniversaries are always dates to smile and celebrate. But this, however, will be the most bitter for Pep Guardiola who today, during his visit to the King Power Stadium to face Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s Leicester, will reach 500 games as Manchester City coach. A figure that on the ‘skyblue’ side of Manchester has only been surpassed by Les McDowal. It will not take long to overcome it after renewing until 2027.
Pep Guardiola
A milestone that, with a single victory in the last 13 games, has plunged his Manchester City into the worst streak of results since he took charge of the team back in 2016. After the Boxing Day hangover, they are out of European competitions in Premier, they are eliminated from the Carabao… and they are moving on the wire in the Champions League (22nd).
Despite this terrible dynamic, Guardiola does not throw in the towel: “I will not give up. I want to be here. Ending this bad streak is what everyone wants… and so do I. “I don’t want to disappoint my people, the fans, or the people who love this club,” he said before the clash against the Foxes.
I don’t want to disappoint my people, the fans, or the people who love this club.
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach
With just 12 wins in 27 games this season, it has been Ciudadano Pep’s most difficult year at the Etihad. But it also shouldn’t tarnish the impressive legacy he has built over these eight seasons.
A before and after
When Guardiola arrived at the Etihad in 2016, Manchester City had already broken its glass ceiling, winning the club’s first Premier League title in 2012 under Roberto Mancini. Then another one would arrive with Manuel Pellegrini. However, the reality is that his incorporation to the bench marked a before and after not only in the club… but also in England.
With the treble won in 2022-23 as the high point, he long ago left Joe Mercer behind as the coach with the most titles (18) in the club’s history. In addition, he is the only coach in the history of English football to have won a consecutive Premier League title.
Sooner or later, we will return. But this reminds us how good the past was
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City coach
With 72% victories, Guardiola has built an empire with consistency as his flag: “Sooner or later, we will return. But this makes us remember how good the past was.” Perhaps today is the right time for this nightmare to end and everything to go back to the way it was before.