Coach Pep Guardiola has led Manchester City for 500 matches. "That period was like 500 months," said the Spaniard.
Not to mention his first 486 games, Guardiola's last 14 games with Man City have been a nightmare. Those were 2 months when injuries continued to haunt The Citizens. Or it could be called 60 days that feel like decades for Guardiola.
The former Barcelona coach believes that will help him value the good moments more: "Maybe the difficult period will make you realize how wonderful it was before, and hopefully we can come back" - Guardiola said before the win over Leicester.
This statement feels like an admission that the best days of the Manchester team are over. That was probably Guardiola's most glorious period at the Etihad, even though he still has a contract until 2027.
There has been a long-standing threat that Man City's dominance era could end in 2025, when the verdict is announced regarding 115 allegations made by the Premier League. But, regardless of the result, they have collapsed before due to factors on the pitch.
Even Guardiola, who has long thought victory was not as easy as it looks, admitted he had never imagined such a decline. However, before that, the Citizens were unbeaten in 32 Premier League games and 26 Champions League games. That is why Guardiola believes their success in 2024 should not be judged differently by the recent streak of form.
"Not for a month and a half. It's been an unbelievable year. We have reached the FA Cup final, won the Premier League for the fourth consecutive time, reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League with a really good record" - the 59-year-old strategist said.
That has changed in the past eight weeks and shows Guardiola's mistake. "There are things I feel I should have reacted differently, but it's an incredible lesson. Football is unpredictable and you can't take things for granted," said Guardiola.
Man City's decline may stem from the sluggishness in decision-making. Rodri has warned that he was working too hard last season. However, they have not bought a new defensive midfielder, leaving a gap in the squad when Rodri was injured.
Other players have also played too much as Man City have had a busy schedule for many years. The exhaustion has become inherent due to injuries, some due to over-exertion and some due to age. In a season that includes the FIFA Club World Cup and promises to have up to 75 matches, The Citizens simply cannot keep up.
That deterioration has been exacerbated by Man City's business in the transfer market. Of City's six new signings since the treble, only Josko Gvardiol is now a regular starter.
Man City may have wasted their dominance. Instead, the best teams have become the best businessmen. And now, Guardiola and his students do not know what awaits them in 2025.
