When it comes to professional sports, dynasties don’t usually end quietly. Fans and rivals of Manchester City are starting to ask more and more seriously: is this the end of Pep Guardiola’s time at the Etihad? The 2025 season has brought up this question. Under the careful and methodical guidance of the Catalan mastermind, City seemed unbeatable at one point. But this season has been full of inconsistency, injuries, and the painful truth that they were eliminated from Europe’s most coveted competition.
A Slide in Performance
At first, the signs were not very clear. Manchester City won the Community Shield to start the 2025 season, even though it was on penalties against Arsenal. This suggested that they would have another dominant season. But that mask of control quickly fell apart. Rodri’s illness caused a clear drop in performance, and by the middle of the season, City were in a strange spot: fifth in the Premier League, 17 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola
Their struggles deepened with exits from the Champions League, brutally exposed by Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappé, and from the League Cup at the hands of Tottenham. Between late October and mid-December, Guardiola’s team scraped together just four points from a possible 28 – an astonishing figure that would’ve been unthinkable during their treble-winning campaign just two seasons prior.
Guardiola’s Record: Legacy Cemented
Guardiola left a strong foundation, even with the problems. The Spanish manager took over City in 2016 and has led them to an amazing 18 major wins, including six Premier League titles, a long-awaited UEFA Champions League title, and a FIFA Club World Cup. His new ideas in football strategy, careful planning of games, and stress on technical perfection changed not only City but also English football as a whole.
Guardiola changed the club’s DNA by implementing a high-pressing, possession-based strategy that made stars of Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, and Phil Foden. He not only wanted perfection on the field, but also a mindset of discipline and accuracy off it. This changed how City trained and how the organization worked internally.
| Title | Years Won |
|---|---|
| Premier League | 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| FA Cup | 2018-19, 2022-23 |
| League Cup | 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21 |
| Community Shield | 2018, 2019, 2024 |
| Champions League | 2022-23 |
| UEFA Super Cup | 2023 |
| Club World Cup | 2023 |
A Team in Transition
Yet, the current campaign illustrates the pitfalls of sustained dominance. Even the most intricately designed systems are vulnerable to wear and generational turnover. Veterans such as Ilkay Gündogan, Bernardo Silva, and Ederson are entering the twilight of their careers. Their replacements – promising as they may be – have yet to reach the consistency required at this level. Signings like Nico González, Vitor Reis, and James Trafford show potential, but they do not yet inspire the same fear among opponents.
Guardiola himself has admitted the era that brought historic highs – including the treble of 2022–23 – might be ending. “We’ve been an amazing team,” he said, reflecting with a sense of closure. Asked whether the cycle was over, his answer was honest: “A little bit, yes.”
Contract Extension, but Questions Linger
In a move that surprised some, Guardiola signed a contract extension through 2027. His public reasoning was straightforward – he is still happy doing the job. “It’s not for the number that it’s special,” he remarked. “My main target is to be happy, wake up in the morning and come to do my job.”
Yet there is an unmistakable fatigue in his words. Guardiola admitted he’s tired, feeling the weight of an ever-demanding schedule: “Sometimes I say ‘oh, another game.’” That sense of mental and emotional exhaustion is palpable, even as his competitive instincts push him forward.
Pep Guardiola
A Measured Decline or Temporary Setback?
City’s decline in 2025 must be placed in context. It’s not a collapse, but a recalibration. Even with a squad in transition, they remain among the most technically gifted teams in Europe. The foundation is stable; the ceiling is still high.
However, Europe has caught up. Real Madrid, with its blend of youth and experience, reminded City in brutal fashion that possession alone doesn’t guarantee control. Xabi Alonso’s unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen, meanwhile, offers an example of modern tactical evolution – energetic, balanced, and direct – that challenges Guardiola’s cerebral, control-based approach. And now, Xabi Alonso will try to bring these ideas to life in Madrid.
The Broader Perception
Despite the accolades, Manchester City under Guardiola have not always been universally adored. Respect? Undoubtedly. But admiration is more complex. Critics point to the financial muscle behind City’s rise – the highest wage bill in English football, and 115 Premier League charges for alleged financial breaches still pending. Guardiola has vehemently denied these issues affect his work, asserting that the club’s success is due to sporting merit.
Internally, Guardiola’s influence is unquestioned. Externally, however, their clinical style of play is often labeled dull, especially in contrast to Jurgen Klopp’s more emotionally charged Liverpool or the romanticism of United’s 1999 treble.
And yet, there are moments that defy this narrative: Phil Foden’s stunning long-range goals, Kevin De Bruyne’s outrageous passes, or the drama of Ilkay Gündogan’s title-winning goal against Aston Villa in 2022. These are not the hallmarks of a soulless machine, but of a team still capable of magic.
Pep Guardiola
End of an Era, Not the End of a Legacy
So, is this the end of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City? Perhaps. But endings in football are rarely abrupt. This feels more like the closing chapters of a monumental book – one still being written.
Even if this is the final act of Guardiola’s reign, it will be remembered not just for the silverware, but for the transformation. Manchester City didn’t just win; they redefined what winning looked like. That’s the Guardiola legacy – not just trophies, but the tactics, the philosophy, and the elevated expectations that will linger long after he’s gone.
But make no mistake – the final chapter is approaching, and its ending will shape how one of football’s most remarkable managerial tenures is ultimately remembered.