The setback against Brighton (2-1) certified Pep Guardiola’s worst streak of results as a coach. He had never had four defeats in a chain. City, who were eliminated in the League Cup against Tottenham (2-1), are second in the Premier League, five points behind Liverpool.
His rivals would be wrong to consider him dead. The ‘sky blues’ have already overcome a seven-point deficit to be champions in 2018-19, eight in 2020-21 and 2022-23… and six in 2023-24.
“We have won six Leagues in seven years. We knew it was going to be a difficult season. Absences [hasta 13]personal reasons… One thing is for sure: I am not going to give up. When the injured return, we will return to the best level,” says Guardiola.
We have won six Leagues in seven years. We knew it was going to be a difficult season, but I’m not going to give up
Pep Guardiola
“There will be light at the end of the tunnel,” Walker insists. “We are in a bit of a dark situation. Everything is going in the wrong direction,” Bernardo Silva disagrees.
The ‘trial of the century’
City’s crisis, unlike other occasions, transcends sports. The trial for having violated the Premier’s financial fair play on 115 occasions generates a lot of uncertainty — the sanction could range from a financial fine to relegation — and conditions the hiring policy.
Hence this summer he has spent less (25 million) than he has earned (141). Only Savinho – belonging to the City Group – and Gündogan (free) have arrived.
Renovations are also on standby. In the next year and a half, nine players end their contract, several of them key: De Bruyne, Gündogan, Carson, Ortega, Walker, Stones, Ederson, Bernardo Silva and McAtee.
Guardiola, after nine years at the Etihad, is free in June. “There are more options for it to continue if we are relegated to the Third Division than if we play in the Champions League,” he stressed. Now, however, he is buying time: “I want to be convinced of what is best for the club.”
There are more options for it to continue if we are relegated to Third Division than if we play in the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola
Structural casualties
City has lost, in recent months, two ‘heavyweights’ in the offices. Omar Berrada, who already worked at Barcelona with Ferran Soriano and Begiristain, opened the ‘bleed’. The former director of operations ‘cityzen’, key in the signing of Haaland, became CEO… of United!
Omar Berrada, at the City facilities. Alberto Rubio Garcia
“He was an important person, Ferran’s right hand man. Maybe they think that with him everything will change. If it happens, they must name a stand after them. “He would deserve it,” Guardiola said sarcastically.
Berrada was an important person, Ferran’s right hand
Pep Guardiola
“It is a great loss. “Everyone assumed that one day he would replace Txiki,” said Sam Lee in ‘The Athletic’. And Begiristain has already announced that in June he will leave his position as sports director. He will be succeeded by Hugo Viana (Sporting CP).
Some even suggest that Ferran Soriano could leave his position as CEO to take up a new role at the City Group… but it does not seem likely. At least, in the immediate future.
Guardiola, along with Begiristain and Unzue, in the match against ALS.
“Begiristain feels that, for him, it is the end of an era. The club needs a new impetus and new people,” Guillem Balagué said on the BBC.
“A part of me goes with him. He is my friend and one of the architects of the best teams in the history of Barcelona and City,” Guardiola acknowledged.
Pep Guardiola, along with HH Sheikh Mansour and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, among others.GETTY IMAGES
The former Barcelona and Bayern player, however, fights against the theory of the end of the cycle: “It’s what many people want. “Not that we descend, but that we disappear from the face of the Earth.”
