Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City in the English Premier League (EPL), is considered the most successful leader in world football. Guardiola, the youngest ever head coach to win the UEFA Champions League (UCL), has led Manchester City since 2016 and won 353 games (72% of the games) in 490 games from 2023 to 2024. In the 2017-2018 season, he conquered the EPL’s first “100 points (32 wins, 4 draws, 2 losses) and led Manchester City in the 2022-2023 season to achieve the treble (the league, the English Football Association Cup, and the UCL at the same time) for the first time in the club’s history. Manchester City has been on a roll with Guardiola, winning the EPL title from the 2020-2021 season to the last season, winning four consecutive games. Guardiola signed a two-year extension contract with Manchester City in November to take charge of the team for 10 years.
Cracks began to form between Guardiola’s reputation and the era of Manchester City during the 2024-2025 season, which seemed to last forever, and now it is in a long-term recession. Manchester City, led by Guardiola, lost to Aston Villa in the 17th round of the EPL 1-2 at Villa Park in Birmingham, England on the 21st. Due to the defeat, Manchester City had only one win, two draws, and nine losses in its recent 12 official matches. Manchester City lost for the sixth time in the season (8 wins, 3 draws, 27 points). It is the first time that Manchester City has recorded more than six losses in a single season since the 2020-2021 season (27 wins, 5 draws, 6 losses, 86 points) when the dynasty was under construction. On the other hand, Aston Villa had their eighth win (three draws, 28 points) to pull Manchester City down to sixth place and take the fifth place.
Manchester City scored the first goal in the 16th minute of the first half by Aston Villa Hon Duran, and was taken 0-2 by Morgan Rogers in the 20th minute of the second half. Manchester City avoided defeat in the second half when Phil Foden scored a comeback goal in the extra time of the second half. 메이저놀이터
When the game ended, Guardiola suffered from bloodshot eyes as if he was in tears. Foreign media reported that Guardiola even threw a bottle of water from the bench in anger during the game. After a 3-3 draw with UCL Feyenoord on June 27, Guardiola expressed his agony by scratching his face with his fingernails to the point that he was bleeding, sparking controversy.
In an interview after the game, Guardiola said, “We have to find another solution, and we will find it,” adding, “I don’t think there’s anything we can do right now except support the players.”