The season of the Catalan coach is in Marray: a Champions League debacle, 15 points behind Liverpool and with an aging and rusty team.
The warning signals were there. If the city was expected to collapse when the Real Madrid attack clicked in gear, that is because Guardiola's reign – now in the ninth season – has reached the lowest point so far. Despite winning 18 trophies and raising the city to a level where they regularly compete with European giants such as Real Madrid, the struggles of the team were impossible to ignore this season. As The Guardian put it into print, reality cannot be denied: Halfway through February City is about to be a Champions League output and miles at the back of the Premier League Title Race.
While the heroic deeds of Jude Bellingham – and the 'Hell's Bells' words of words of the British gossip magazines – the headlines, one word echoed about English media after the latest European collapse of the city: disaster. In addition to celebrating Bellingham's performance in the 3-2 comeback victory of Real Madrid, the press also be fingers on the perpetrators in Sky Blue. The Times was particularly destructive, called City's defending 'comic' and the fault gave it for the latest setback of Guardiola.
Guardiola, however, refused to choose his players. “This defeat belongs to all of us,” he said in his press conference after the game. “It is ridiculous to blame only one player. The truth is that we are not stable enough. “Despite his attempt to protect the team, goalkeeper Niererson – who made crucial saves before his blunder Madrid gifted the equalizer – and replacement Rico Lewis, who had endured a version of the right flank, the primary scapegoats.
“You can't even postpone this level, especially to a team like Real Madrid with the kind of attackers they have,” said former England striker Alan Shearer on the broadcast of Amazon Prime. “City has handed the game in the past five minutes. At 2-2 there was still hope, even if Madrid was preferred. But now? Madrid is the clear favorite. It would cost a miracle for the city to turn this around. With the attacking quality they have, you would expect to finish the job in the second stage. “
The defensive vulnerability of the city under Guardiola has never been striking again. This season, the team has admitted 17 goals in nine Champions League matches than the 16 that they allowed in 12 games during their 2022-23 campaign. As Wayne Rooney placed it on Amazon Prime, “this city team is just too naive.” And they still have to travel to the Santiago Bernabéu for the second stage.
With one foot from the Champions League and slip in the domestic classification – now fifth in the Premier League, level on points with Newcastle, their next opponent – the criticism is mounting. Guardiola remained with his familiar veterans against Madrid and trusted stars like Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, but time catches the core of the city. De Bruyne (33), Ilkay Gündogan (34), Or Nomouwon (31) and others such as John Stones, Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovačić who approach 30, show signs of wear. That is why City splash more than $ 215 million in the January transfer star.
As Simon Bajkowski from Manchester Evening News said: “City has a starting XI to compete with the best in Europe, but not in the team depth.” The additions of the 19-year-old Vior Reis, 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov, 23-year-old Nico González and the 26-year-old Omar Marmoush are intended to lay the foundation for the next era of Manchester City. And if Guardiola is the one to build, it remains an open question. Micah Richards recently suggested that his time in the Etihad might come to an end, “but Sergio Agüero defended his former manager at Sky Sports and said:” Pep is one of the best in the world and if anyone can turn this around, he's it . “
Guardiola herself tried to reassure fans by expanding his contract until 2027, even though his previous deal ends in June. He has consistently stated that he feels fully supported by the club. In Manchester – and throughout England – Guardiola remains an unassailable figure. He, and only he, will decide when his legendary term of office will end in City. And when that day comes, he and Hugo Viana will be the architects of whatever comes for the club.
This article was originally written in Spanish, it was translated using the help of AI before it was edited for publication.
Pick up your game! Whether you have from NFL-Touchdowns, NBA-Zoemer-Beaters, football goals from World Class or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Comments