Pep Guardiola’s career as a coach has been characterized by the constant search for challenges. From his time at Barcelona B to his arrival at Manchester City, the Spanish coach has demonstrated his ability to succeed in different contexts and leagues.
Upon his arrival at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola faced the question of how to prove his worth in England. After nine years at the club, he has won 18 titles, answering that question with flying colors.
However, the landscape at Manchester City and in English football has changed. Guardiola faces a new challenge, perhaps the biggest of his career.
Guardiola decided to stay at the club and signed a contract extension until 2027, assuming the task of building a new winning team. The current context, however, is very different.
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From the squad that played the Champions League final against Inter Milan two years ago, fifteen players have left or been relegated to a secondary role, including key figures such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Ilkay Gündogan.
In addition to the squad renewal, Guardiola must adapt to the changes in the Premier League. The coach has acknowledged that modern football requires a more dynamic and less positional game.
Guardiola is trying to combine his style of play with a higher press and faster, more direct attacks. To do this, he brought in Pep Lijnders as an assistant, who was key in the development of Jürgen Klopp’s “heavy metal” style at Liverpool.
After an initial victory against Wolves, City lost their next two matches. The defeats against Tottenham and Brighton exposed defensive weaknesses, especially in the high defense.
Manchester United, managed by Ruben Amorim, could exploit these weaknesses in Sunday’s Manchester derby. City is below its neighbors in the table and six points behind Liverpool, the current champion.Nedum Onuoha emphasizes the importance of winning the Manchester derby after a disappointing start to the season for Manchester City.
Guardiola’s challenge is clear: to build a team capable of succeeding in the new era of the Premier League. Only time will tell if he can achieve it.
