LEGACY: Pep Guardiola is in danger of out staying his welcome just like Arsene Wenger
Football Insider claims that following a difficult start to the Premier League season, Pep Guardiola, the manager of Manchester City, is under increased pressure ahead of the Manchester derby, with the stakes higher than ever.
After three games, City is in the bottom half of the table, which is unusual for Guardiola’s nine years at the Etihad due to losses to Brighton and Tottenham.
In addition to hosting Manchester United, the Citizens may drop nine points behind league leaders Liverpool should the Merseysiders defeat Burnley.
The match has become more importance as Guardiola tries to avoid harming his team’s chances of winning the championship and his own legacy at the club in the early going.
In a September 11 article for The Telegraph, Oliver Brown emphasised the possibility that Guardiola’s extended term may mirror that of former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
According to Brown, Guardiola, who was formerly praised for his technical skill and dedication to possession-based football, is now criticised for his stubbornness.
A loss in the derby might replicate last season’s mid-season dip, which led to crowd ire following City’s Champions League loss to Feyenoord, Brown cautions.
“Guardiola keeps drawing comparisons to Arsene Wenger as someone who has outlived his usefulness,” Brown stated.
Guardiola, who used to be praised for his artistic sophistication and now wants his team to play a “thousand, million passes,” is in danger of doing the same thing.
“We will soon experience a rerun of last season’s slump, which peaked with City supporters jeering a wild Champions League performance against Feyenoord, if we lose Sunday’s Manchester derby.
“Yes, the season is only three games old, but no team has lost twice in that time frame and been declared the winner since United thirty-two years ago.”
Last season, City’s problems were made worse by injuries, particularly to midfielder Rodri, who interfered with their rhythm.
Although his comeback raises expectations for a successful season, the immediate goal is still to defeat Manchester United, who have had a patchy start of their own.
Guardiola will also have to decide between goalkeepers James Trafford and Gianluigi Donnarumma, among other important selections.
A significant boost is provided by forward Erling Haaland, who is in excellent form after tallying five goals for Norway.
Guardiola must reverse United’s recent two victories at the Etihad in order to keep City in the running for the championship and prevent Liverpool from gaining a significant early-season advantage.
Pep Guardiola’s reign at Manchester City has been nothing short of historic, yet some critics now warn that he risks repeating the fate of Arsène Wenger at Arsenal—staying too long and seeing his aura fade. Wenger revolutionised English football in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but his refusal to step away at the right time meant the latter years of his tenure were marked by frustration, decline, and questions over his legacy.
Guardiola has built a dynasty at City, winning six Premier League titles and a Champions League, but sustaining dominance indefinitely is almost impossible. Signs of fatigue are creeping in: key players are aging, rivals are catching up, and motivation after years of success may inevitably wane. Guardiola, once hailed for constant innovation, now faces accusations of tactical stubbornness and over-rotation.
The danger for him lies not in tarnishing his trophy haul—his record is already legendary—but in staying past the peak of his influence. If results dip and the football becomes stale, the narrative could shift from brilliance to stagnation. Just as Wenger became a victim of his own success, Guardiola must decide whether to walk away at the summit—or risk the slow erosion of his legacy.
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