Weโve lived through the greatest era in Man Cityโs history.
The hardest part about Pep Guardiola leaving is accepting that we may never see football this perfect, this dominant, or this special again.
But this club is bigger than one era.
We have to trust Chairman Khaldoon, the board, and the structure they have built to deliver again in this new chapter.
Pep Guardiolaโs legacy? Look all around from park pitches to Wembley. So many teams and coaches have been influenced by Guardiola. More teams playing out from the back, full-backs inverting into midfield, inviting the press, passing through it, attacking the space. Teams evolving. City won the league in 2021 with false 9s. Then a real 9 arrived, Erling Haaland, as Guardiola tweaked and twisted again. Mixing it up, possession, possession, then going long to Haaland if needed. Mixing it up, possession in the centre, then releasing flying wingers Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo.
Guardiolaโs legacy? Look at the coaches who learned from him. Enzo Maresca, his likely successor. And Mikel Arteta, Xabi Alonso, Vincent Kompany, Xavi and Luis Enrique. Look at his impact on England. Nico OโReilly starts at left-back. Phil Foden developed early by Guardiola, not sent out on loan, embedded in the first team early.
He improved John Stones, Rico Lewis and Kyle Walker (who is now retired from England). Guardiola gave James Trafford a run in the cups. He gave Cole Palmer a chance before he craved more starts and went to Chelsea. Others have also moved on after a spell under Guardiolaโs enlightened tutelage: Morgan Rogers, Liam Delap, James McAtee, Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
Guardiola has undeniably enjoyed huge resources to call upon during his decade at City. He was able to draft in Marc Guehi and Semenyo in January. The sport still awaits the verdict of the 115 charges of rule breaches, charges which City deny vigorously. But Guardiola's achievements deserve celebrating: 591 games, 416 wins, 20 trophies.
And so to the future. If it is confirmed that Guardiola is leaving after Sundayโs final game of the season, at home to Aston Villa, he will be greatly missed. Maresca is his mooted successor. He knows the club, knows the way Guardiola worked, and can seek to continue that work. Itโs a relatively young squad that Guardiola has built. Itโs a continuity job. Surely, though, Kompany would have been the man they really wanted. Club legend. But currently embedded at Bayern Munich.
Guardiola's legacy is encouraging innovation, total commitment, near obsession with his work and playing attacking football. This City side are entertainers, playing 4-2-4 at times in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Even if the league is beyond him, the title seized by a coach he helped develop, Guardiola leaves as a winner, with two more trophies this season - and countless memories. Good luck to Guardiola in whatever he does next. #MCFC
The GOAT! 20 trophies in 10 years at City. We have had the pleasure of witnessing the most dominant managerial run in English football history. Itโs not even a conversation! Gutted itโs coming to end but my godโฆ what a ride! ๐ฉต
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.
Pep Guardiola will travel to Wembley for 23rd time with Manchester City today. ๐คฏ
Jรผrgen Klopp comes closest in the same time frame with 6 visits.
[via @TouchlineX]
๐จ Pep Guardiola: โOne of the secrets we've had as a club is after success, success, success, we were humble enough or calm enough to say: OK what do we have to do to continue being up thereโ.
โThat is the most difficult thingโ.