Pep Guardiola and Man City winning when the chips are down

To say Manchester City’s season hasn’t gone to plan is a well-documented understatement. 

Pep Guardiola’s side currently find themselves 18 points behind newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool with two matches remaining, and his side also failed to secure a spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage for the first time since 2012. 

A 2-1 defeat to Tottenham saw Manchester City knocked out of the Carabao Cup in the fourth round, all of which has made for a pretty dismal campaign by the club’s admittedly lofty standards.

The woeful run of form in-and-around the busy Christmas period even cast doubt over the future of their manager, as an exasperated Guardiola looked to be running on fumes, much like the core contingent of playing staff which has brought so many fond memories to East Manchester across the last decade. 

The long-term absence of Ballon D’or winning midfielder Rodri hasn’t helped their cause, but the slump around the club extended far beyond the injury to the Spaniard’s anterior cruciate ligament damage sustained last September.

The sudden decline prompted a windfall of spending during the January winter window. All in all, Manchester City dropped around £180 million in fees to freshen up a squad which was wilting in the intense heat of a packed football calendar.

And yet, despite all of the above, Pep Guardiola and co look set to play Champions League football next season, providing they avoid an almighty slip in their final two league outings. Silverware also remains a possibility ahead of their meeting with Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final on Saturday.

For all the doom and gloom around the Etihad Stadium for much of this term, the fact Pep Guardiola could look back on one of the most difficult seasons of his glory-laiden career with another winners medal in the cabinet speaks volumes.

Champions League football and a trophy would stand out as a season for the ages at most clubs in the Premier League alone, never mind the wider English football pyramid. It could also prove to be the most important season the club has endured in recent times. 

Hard lessons have surely been learnt on and off the pitch and, while Manchester City headed into 2024/25 eyeing up a record fifth consecutive league title, the season has provided a necessary stop-gap to allow the introduction of the next generation of winners. 

Another busy transfer window surely lies ahead as Guardiola sets his sights on returning the Citizens to a perch they have made their own during his nine-year tenure. And if we’ve learned anything about the 54-year-old during his time in England, he only has one response to failure. Winning. 

Can Manchester City come back and win the Premier League next season? Keep an eye on the odds with unparalleled betting advice from FIRST.