Three draws in-a-row 

©TM/IMAGO

Everywhere he has gone, Pep Guardiola has dominated football – ever since he emerged as a promising coach two decades ago. Not only have his teams been serial winners but he has changed the culture of the game, setting trends and inspiring and guiding the next generation of managers. Since 2008, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, Guardiola has won 12 domestic league titles, 10 domestic cups and three Champions Leagues. He will go down as one of, if not the greatest manager of all-time, but is his period of dominance finally coming to an end?

On Wednesday night, Guardiola’s Man City dropped more points as they drew 1-1 with Brighton at the Etihad, making it three draws in-a-row and handing Arsenal the opportunity to go eight points clear if they beat Liverpool at the Emirates this Thursday. After a miserable season for the Sky Blues last term, many felt they were ready to seriously challenge for the Premier League title again this season. They still might be – it’s only January. But the formidable City of old seems to be fading. Are the times changing?

Is Pep Guardiola’s era of dominance finally over?

As illustrated in the graphic above, if we look back at Guardiola’s teams across the years at this stage of the season, a sharp decline can be noticed. The only campaigns in which a Guardiola-team has had less league points than this season (43 points) after 21 games was in his first season at Man City (42 points) and last term (35 points). Now, these are obviously insanely high standards to live up to, but whilst last season can be labelled as an anomaly, the fact this term is the third lowest ever points to more than that. It’s a trend.

Guardiola has stayed at Man City longer than he has at any other club before. He is coming up to his 10 year anniversary. So in many ways this is new territory for the Spaniard. And whilst he has built one of the best teams the game has ever seen at the Etihad, which culminated in winning four Premier League titles in-a-row, much of that team has been dissolved. Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan, Kyle Walker and Ederson are gone. Bernardo Silva and John Stones are ageing. Guardiola puts so much energy into what he does – it’s feasible to understand that he might not have it in him to start again at Man City.

Now, it must be mentioned that Man City still have a fantastic squad. And have signed some very exciting young players such a Rayan Cherki, but with Guardiola’s contract up in 2027 and some reports even suggesting he could leave at the end of this season, perhaps the club are already thinking about life after their greatest ever manager. Eras end. Perhaps Guardiolas era of pure success at the very top of the game is ending. But his legacy will remain untarnished and his effect on the game is still there for all to see.

Pep Guardiola’s legacy will remain untarnished

Mikel Arteta leads the Premier League with Arsenal – he worked under Guardiola. Enzo Maresca won the Club World Cup with Chelsea – he worked under Guardiola. Vincent Kompany looks set to win back-to-back Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich – he worked under Guardiola. You can see the theme. Even if Guardiola’s days at very top of management are coming to an end, it’s many of his disciples that could be replacing him.

Guardiola himself will often point to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff as his biggest inspiration having been coached by the three time-Ballon d’Or winner at Barcelona. “Without him I wouldn’t be here. I know for sure this is why I am, right now, the manager of Manchester City and before that Bayern Munich and Barcelona,” said Guardiola of his former coach in 2016. Whilst without Cruyff you wouldn’t have had Guardiola, the Spaniard’s effect on football is unmatched – he has had a bigger platform to spread his ideas. He has changed the way people play football throughout the English football pyramid. You can go down the local park and see a Sunday League team trying to play out from the back.

However, whilst his effect on the game will play a big part in his legacy, the fact he has been able to win so much whilst doing that will be what sets him apart. It would take a brave man to question Guardiola’s achievements, and that’s not the purpose of this article. He is and will be one of the greatest managers of all time, but a shift in his dominance is notable. If his Man City team fail to win the league this term, it will be the first time in his career where he has gone two seasons in-a-row without winning the league. A legend of the game, but new stars are rising.