Why Pep Guardiola cannot afford a second trophy-less season at Manchester City

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The arrival of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the summer of 2016 was hailed as the start of a bright new era for club. The Spaniard arrived with a reputation as one of the brightest, most intelligent and innovative modern coaches in world football – and he had the trophy cabinet to evidence his undoubted ability.

In Spain he moulded Barcelona into one of the most memorable and outstanding teams in modern football, winning fourteen trophies over a four year period at the Camp Nou including two European Titles.

A three year spell in Germany with Bayern Munich resulted in further success, including three successive Bundesliga titles and two domestic cup triumphs, although failure to challenge for the Champions League suggested that Guardiola had simply maintained the club’s trajectory rather than vastly improve it as many had hoped.

The 46-year-old’s playing philosophy, style of management and on-pitch success has made him one of the most respected coaches of the twenty-first century.

However, Guardiola faces a defining second season in charge of Manchester City after a debut campaign in England that ended with no silverware. Despite making a promising start, in which the club won all ten of their opening fixtures across all competitions, the team were hindered by inconsistency, defensive frailties and an inability to beat so-called inferior teams on home soil.

City finished 3^rd in the Premier League, 15 points behind Chelsea, endured exits from both domestic cups and were knocked out of the Champions League in the round of last-sixteen.

On the whole, the campaign fell a considerable way short of the high standards and lofty expectations that Manchester City now attains. Guardiola has been handed a season of grace with an acknowledgement that he was beginning a rebuilding process with a team that was in transition and adjusting to a new footballing philosophy.

However, the Spaniard must now ensure that City are contenders on all fronts next season and will be well aware that a failure to match the pace set by the likes of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur will see patience start to wear thin among the club’s hierarchy.

Millions of pounds have not been invested in the club just so that Manchester City can be the third best team in English football.

Record investment in the transfer market

The pressure on Pep Guardiola will also be significantly increased due to his record levels of spending in the transfer market. Manchester City are expected to invest close to £250 million on new personnel during the summer and this is in addition to the big-money signings of John Stones, Leroy Sane, Claudio Bravo and Gabriel Jesus that the club purchased last season.

City have already invested £34 million to purchase Benfica goalkeeper Ederson. Guardiola has spent over £60 million since arriving at the Etihad Stadium trying to solve a goalkeeping dilemma that many believed did not exist in the first place. His decision to freeze out Joe Hart from the first team has created an issue that has yet to be resolved with Claudio Bravo’s arrival costing the club financially as well as on the pitch through constant mistakes.

Monaco winger Bernado Silva has also arrived for £43 million, with former team mate Banjamin Mendy heavily linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium, as per the Telegraph.

Tottenham Hotspurs’ Kyle Walker is believed to be on Pep Guardiola’s transfer wish list, as reported by the Manchester Evening News, while former Juventus full-back Dani Alves, as reported by The Guardian, and Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, as per the same source, are both expected to start the new season as Manchester City players.

Should City succeed in securing all of their transfer targets it is not beyond comprehension that their summer spending could reach the £250 million mark.

A team in transition

It is clear that Guardiola still has plenty of work to do at Manchester City before the season begins and his first team squad still requires major surgery – the question is can he complete the rebuilding programme soon enough?

The current squad is still somewhat lopsided and top heavy with an abundance of attacking talent but a lack of defensive quality.

Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta have all departed the Etihad Stadium leaving only Vincent Kompany, who has struggled with injuries over the previous twelve months, and the relatively inexperienced John Stones as prominent, reliable defensive options.

Guardiola is renowned for his attack-minded mentality but last season proved that he needs to develop a solid foundation behind the talents of Sergio Aguero, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling.

Pep Guardiola was appointed to take Manchester City to the so-called ‘next level’ – maintaining the club’s domestic success whilst also challenging the superpowers of European football. In truth, his debut campaign ended as a failure and a trophy-less second campaign is something that will not be tolerated by the club hierarchy.

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