After becoming the first team in English top-flight football to win the title for four consecutive seasons, Manchester City have broken new ground this year.
Iconic manager Pep Guardiola has one season remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium and now he and the players must find the drive to make sure, if it is indeed his last year in Manchester, that it’s a fitting end for the Catalonian tactician in England.
Always Tough to Reach Heights of 2022/23
Having won the treble of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the 2022/23 season, it was always going to be a challenge for City to reach those dizzy heights the following campaign. City looked to be on course to reach another European final but Real Madrid, who are 3/10 in the odds to win the Champions League, got the better of Guardiola’s side in the semi-finals. While Los Blancos face Borussia Dortmund, who are 12/5 with Champions League bets to win the final, the Cityzens will have to watch the showpiece event from afar. Following the disappointment of that semi-final exit, City did respond to once again beat Arsenal to the Premier League crown.
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The likes of Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United have all won three top-flight titles in a row but City managed to hold their nerve to be the first to make it four. Beating West Ham United on the final day, the Cityzens edged out Arsenal, who put up an admirable challenge for the English crown. The City players did not have long to celebrate before heading to Wembley for the FA Cup final and it was a day to forget for the blue side of Manchester, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to rivals United. A disappointing end to what overall has been another impressive season from City, the manager and the players must now find the drive to go again.
City Determined to Give Guardiola Send-Off He Deserves
Arguably having the biggest impact on the Premier League since Arsène Wenger’s arrival in England in 1996, Guardiola will go down as one of the greatest managers the competition has seen. With a brand of football that other clubs across the world look to imitate, City have become a powerhouse of European football under his guidance. With Guardiola’s contract set to expire at the end of the 2024/25 season, this coming campaign might well be the last we see of the legendary coach in England.
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Guardiola’s rival Jürgen Klopp left Liverpool at the end of the 2023/24 season but his time at Anfield did not have a fairytale ending. Confirming his departure during the campaign, an emotional playing ground and fanbase were hoping to give the German tactician a happy send-off. Crashing out of the Europa League to eventual winners Atalanta, while falling short in the Premier League title race, meant Klopp’s successful spell on Merseyside did not have the dream ending. For City, if Guardiola does call time on his career at the Etihad Stadium, the players will need to find the balance of focus and emotion to make sure their manager gets the send-off he deserves.
Whatever happens next season, Guardiola will go down as the greatest manager in Manchester City’s history. A game-changer when it comes to how football is viewed, City will be doing all they can to deliver a fitting final act.
