Manchester City: Guardiola playing dominoes all along — no structure, no proper leadership, no clear ambitions
Srećko Šijaković 
Pep Guardiola’s leadership at Manchester City hasn’t been questioned much by Manchester City fans, nor by the Manchester City board, who stand strictly by him as if he were a god-given figure for the club — a true symbol who “knows best.” He and Manchester City are in love. He truly is the symbol of the club, and they can’t imagine anyone better for Manchester City.
After winning multiple Premier League titles with him, in a situation where Manchester City’s budget can’t be compared to any other, every season, he knows he can buy at least two or three of the biggest stars on the transfer market. After finally winning the Champions League in 2023 after the loss to Chelsea in the 2021 Champions League finale, Manchester City stopped questioning Guardiola’s methods of leading the club and gave him full freedom. They have become Pep Guardiola Football Club, and now these two share the same destiny
The contract extension came later, and he had clean hands in leading the club, which resulted in losing the Cup Finals and a very unsuccessful run in the Club World Cup, which led to big disappointment in the team.
The bond- Josep Guardiola and Manchester City- The deep problem
He really is Manchester City now, and City is him — but it has become clear that it’s not working well for Manchester City. This is exactly what happens when you give all the power to Guardiola. It suits him to be at City; he has a very good team, can count on many top players on the market each year, and can compete to win the Premier League and the Champions League every season. He also has a giant paycheck and got an even better contract last year.- He also gains so much respect for this from the cheap media who support him.
I will only say that this man has lost every final and every great match he has played for the trophy in his career. He always makes mistakes.
Considering the strength of his team, he shouldn’t just fight for the Premier League title — he should be winning it easily. Judging by his squad, he has three or four different teams that could easily bring the Premier League title to the Etihad Stadium. His players have so much quality that they are among the best in the world, yet they keep missing titles and finals, and each season, he lacks consistency, which is now visible.
So, here are the signings in the Winter Transfer Window of 2025, when it became clear that Liverpool would be champions. Guardiola entered the market to stop them with these acquisitions — not just players, but truly Guardiola’s own choices to beat Liverpool’s run:
- Omar Marmoush – €75 million – a very good player from Eintracht Frankfurt. Returned from injury. Should play as a right winger, but has been used by Guardiola on the left side most of the time this season. Extremely good player, one of the best available. A very big fee was paid. He is available now at Manchester City.
- Nico González, bought from Porto for €60 million. A Spanish midfielder who isn’t good enough for the Premier League. Guardiola bought him the vision, truly was without reason, believing in his abilities and spending €60 million on him, because he’s allowed to; he’s the alpha and omega of Manchester City. This is what’s happening at Manchester City. It all depends on Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
So what’s been happening is that Guardiola has been “saving the season” — for those who don’t understand, this man has been saving it.
It shows why Manchester City really is a small club for allowing Guardiola everything — to lead without any questioning or structure. They’ve given him everything, even millions that were wasted.
Khusanov was one of his defensive solutions, but soon became a problem, not a solution. With no preparation, Pep brought him in and severely damaged his reputation. He was readied in February by weak defending, and lack of physical strength truly was the way to yang to play that position that Guardiola has given to him. He was also so very young.
He had another fracture with Vitor Reis from Palmeiras — too young for a big move and that role. Was loaned out and not protected. Too young for the Premier League.
Echeverri was also on the market. He wasn’t good enough yet for this level, was heavily used by Guardiola, and was loaned out again.
Manchester City thinks Guardiola is the best of the best, and they can not get better- Or they only thought
If I say Manchester City is a small club for throwing millions at a coach who doesn’t select properly, pays huge fees, and then doesn’t support the players he buys, it’s because the club’s sporting structure now allows Guardiola to get new contracts even during crises.
As we know, Pep gladly takes the money and wages, then blames 18- or 19-year-old players. He runs the machine, gets extreme respect from the media and insiders, and never hears the truth that goes against him. He’s at the top of the Premier League and also in the elimination rounds of the Champions League.
The last season lost to Real Madrid at the beginning of the play-off in the Champions League does not suit good for City, but they are loud enough to be heard on. Manchester City would be much better in this competition if the coach had some pressure on his back and would have a far better results also.
James Trafford – Travesty
If he brought back James Trafford to the club — a player sold earlier for not playing — and now signed Trafford again as his goalkeeper, then why go and buy Donnarumma, who comes only for the money? Trafford is a talented goalkeeper, a City product, while Donnarumma was a PSG star chasing money. That’s when problems started for Guardiola.
His defensive approach is very weak — Dias and Stones are not at the level City needs. That will cost him dearly. He could use Ake and Gvardiol at left-back.
This season’s tactics:
With Cherki injured now returned, the very poor form of Savinho, and the knowledge that Foden won’t find form anytime soon, his only successful tactical setup has been making Doku a great player. He puts in Reijnders, who can’t find form, and Silva, who knows he’ll leave Manchester in the summer. If they don’t play well, Manchester City will have only Haaland and Doku — Oscar Bobb in attack won’t do much good.
One of the very few, very great things done by Guardiola this season is improving Doku, also as Holland’s incredible form, goals, and involvement for club and country
If Haaland didn’t have this form this season, Manchester City would be on its knees. Serious criticism is coming toward Guardiola and City, and it could lead to a terrible streak that the club hasn’t seen in its modern history. Since the arrival of Pep Guardiola
Haaland – Real Madrid rumors
If Manchester City were truly great, there would be no reason for Haaland rumors about a move to Real Madrid. His contract was extended last year during a crisis. Now, the situation is very different — Haaland may have outgrown Guardiola’s tactical ideas and could truly desire a move to Real Madrid. That’s a step up, and he surely belongs at that level.
It’s a difficult situation to imagine, but in a few months, we could see Manchester City in a desperate position due to this poor leadership. Then, can Manchester City become a club with its own structure, desires, course, and development system — or will they remain Pep Guardiola – City Football Club? You can’t give him all the power and expect things to end well.
So they have given clubs ambitions, desires, and abilities in the sake of one man, at least that would be better to have a goal of the season and something to seek to achieve with this group of players. You know Pep will be there next season, and he will again spend big money. Is it not good at City at all?
You cannot lead a club with so a big structure by marketing experts and put Pep Guardiola behind on the stands because it will come at a great price. Where are the signings of winter 2025?
It maybe could work if the ground is right, if Guardiola is the right one for Manchester City, and his ideas really are great as they claim at Manchester City.
About the Author
