It seems like if there is one manager in the Premier League who should have no worries about his job security, it is Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola’s CV at City speaks for itself but due to how much success he achieves season after season, the decision-makers at the club never find themselves in a position where they have to question whether he is past his best.
The £378,846-a-week manager continues to stay ahead of the curve, despite there being several young coaches in world football who are finding fresh and innovative ways to further their teams along.
In the Premier League alone, the likes of Mikel Arteta (42), Andoni Iraola (42) and Gary O’Neill (41) are some of the best young managers in Europe.
During the upcoming 2024/2025 season, the Manchester City tactician will also face competition from Chelsea and Brighton’s new managers in Enzo Maresca (44) and Fabian Hurzeler (31) respectively.
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Pep Guardiola feared Man City sack before Barcelona Champions League clash
However, during his debut campaign in the 2016/2017 season, things were not as smooth at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s defence in particular was extremely leaky and it seemed like until they underwent a squad revamp in the following summer transfer window, Guardiola’s project could be under jeopardy.
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur sides were flying and eventually, the London rivals finished in first and second place respectively in the league table.
An excerpt in author and close confidant of Pep Guardiola, Martin Perarnau’s upcoming book, ‘The Pep Revolution: Inside Manchester City’ has revealed how he feared getting the sack ahead of his side’s clash against Barcelona in November 2016.
As published in the Daily Mail, the excerpt reads: “Pep Guardiola is suffering a crisis of confidence after a run of six games without a win as Manchester City’s new manager and it will only get worse during a torrid first season in charge…”
“Pep’s very troubled. All his coaching staff are feeling it, too. There’s a real sense of foreboding. The last few results have brought them to a crisis point and Pep has even begun to be concerned about his job security. Six tough, punishing games without a win.”
“An inauspicious 3-3 draw at Celtic, losing away to Spurs and then another galling draw, at home to Everton. After a lacerating 4-0 defeat by Barcelona at the Nou Camp, they had scraped another draw at home to Southampton and had humiliatingly been eliminated from the League Cup by Manchester United.”
“Six matches. It’s unprecedented for Guardiola. A superb victory at West Brom has staunched the bleeding but there’s another massive test looming. In just 72 hours, Barcelona will be in Manchester for the return game in the Champions League group clash.”
Perarnau revealed that he had never encountered a more worried Guardiola ahead of the group-stage game against the Catalan giants.
“Pep’s extremely worried. He’s concerned the club might sack him if his team lose badly to Barcelona. It would be his first dismissal. Ever. I’ve never seen Pep in such a tight spot before.”
However, Pep Guardiola was able to let out a sigh of a relief as a brace from Ilkay Gundogan as well as a magical free-kick from Kevin De Bruyne into the back of the net meant Manchester City defeated Barcelona 3-1 eight years ago.
“An all-or-nothing clash. The coach instinctively believes that another defeat could mean the end of his role in the City project. But, typically, the fact it’s make or break seems to give the team wings and they beat Barcelona 3–1 despite their opponents’ magnificent attacking trident of Messi, Neymar and Suarez.”
“Still, it’s a brutal test for Guardiola’s men. Pep’s still very uptight. He’s got that same knot of anxiety in his stomach he’s had since the draw in Glasgow but at least he no longer feels there’s a noose around his neck. He can breathe again.”
An insight into how self-critical Pep Guardiola must be
Considering the contest between Manchester City and Barcelona was played in November, it is surprising that Pep Guardiola felt he could be shown the door as early into the season.
Being winless in six games was worrying for the Sky Blues but it was also worth considering that Guardiola was only into his first season at the club and as a result, his side’s growing pains were understandable.
Furthermore, the Spaniard managed to incorporate his style of play from the very get-go of his time at the club while adapting to English football.
However, it was evident that several of Manchester City’s ageing squad had reached the end of their cycle as elite-level players.
Yet, Pep Guardiola was seemingly self-critical of himself and put huge amounts of pressure on himself to beat a Barcelona side who had won the treble in the season before.
Considering the gulf in class between the sides, the Spanish giants were the favourites heading into the game, especially after demolishing the English side 4-0 in their previous meeting.
But Pep Guardiola’s side rose to the occasion and pulled off a remarkable upset to convincingly put Barcelona to the sword.
Senior figures at Manchester City perhaps were always aware that while Guardiola’s processes will take time to fully click, his vision would turn them into one of the best teams in the world one day.
It’s safe to say that their patience was rewarded as the Catalan changed the fortunes of their club forever by continuing to persist with his project in East Manchester.
