Back-to-back Premier League and EFL Cup titles, not to mention an FA Cup for good measure, there’s no doubt Pep Guardiola’s time in England has been a huge success.
Saying that, the early stages of this season have seen some ricks, an imperfect faulty cog that’s imploded a perfect machine – namely incompetence in the centre half position. Still, no Premier League side have been able to touch the blue side of Manchester when it comes to devastatingly good football.
The fans have been treated undeniably, but do they sense Guardiola’s tenure is in it’s endgame?
The Catalan’s most infamous trophy laden spell was at Barcelona where he claimed two Champions League’s, three La Liga titles, 2 Spanish Cup’s, two FIFA Club World Cup’s and two UEFA Super Cup’s – whilst it hardly dwarfs recent Manchester City achievements, the side are considered one of the all time great teams.
Not that Pep wasn’t desperate to get out.
Being manager of the second most successful team in Spanish football history weighed heavy on the former midfielder. Not only was he the coach, but the mouth piece of the teams identity, the spokesperson for every political agenda around the club – no wonder he had a much needed sabbatical following his exit.
Bayern was the next port of call, and the trophies seemingly came with him. No doubt buoyed by the German powerhouse’s upper club hierarchy and their insistence on managing everything outside the changing room, Guardiola claimed three Bundesliga’s, and two German Cup’s. No Champions League this time, still, an enhanced reputation with every club wanting a piece of him.
Four years at Barca, three at Bayern, it’s now been three at City, on top of all that, this…
Speaking before an FA Cup third-round tie at West Ham last season, Guardiola said: “Maybe it was inappropriate to say I’m starting to say goodbye to my career.
“I’m not thinking that I’m going to retire.”
“I said in the interview that I won’t be a trainer when I’m 60. But I’m 45. I’m not going to retire in two or three years,” he continued.
“I’m not going to train at 60 because I want to do something else in my life.
“I started playing football young and my career was on the pitch. I want to do something else in my life, but in the next three or four or five or six or seven years.
Naturally the fact that a Champions League has evaded Guardiola since 2012 in used a stick to beat him. Last season saw Raheem Sterling and co come with an a VAR decision of making their way to the semi final, from there they would have been heavy favourites to claim the crown – it’s such margins that Pep knows takes to win the competition.
It’s difficult to believe that the European glory is the only thing keeping the Catalan at City. After an unbelievable domestic treble winning season last term – Pep may feel enough is enough and seek another adventure before his seemingly certain early retirement.
Currently the side sit eight points behind Liverpool in 1st. Whilst the league campaign is in it’s infancy, Liverpool have dragged themselves out of the mud on a number of occasions to claim three points.
With gears ready to climb into as the season progresses, City will find it disconcerting that Liverpool have found winning dirty somewhat easy – not to say that the Merseysiders don’t have a form dip in them.
City have lost on two occasions, two less than all of last season, they’ve also seemingly succumbed to Guardiola’s only footballing weakness – the centre back position.
With club stalwart Vincent Kompany exiting the club and Harry Maguire floating on the transfer market, albeit for an eye watering price, fans were left puzzled by the managers insistent that he had enough cover. Fast forward to this weekends disastrous 2-0 home defeat to Wolves, the home contingent were treated to a Otemendi and Fernandinho freak show.
It’s perfectly sensible to predict a Man City goal fest in their next Premier League fixture against Palace, however, and upset will likely leave serious questions on Pep’s future.
He’d never be pushed, but a jump is always likely.