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The Manchester City manager has had little time to turn his side after the disappointment of the Premier League was followed by European despair.
Pep Guardiola enters uncharted territory, facing one of the toughest challenges of his brilliant coaching career to date.
For the first time, the Manchester City manager will start his fifth season at the same club, making it his first rebuilding job, after last season’s poor performance in both the Premier League and the Champions League.
An 18-point deficit against English champions Liverpool was bad enough, but the FA Cup final loss to Arsenal and the European exit to Lyon made it clear that even average opponents no longer fear the team. that once intimidated Guardiola.
It’s been just over a month since that loss in Lisbon to Lyon, a team that finished seventh in Ligue 1 last season, meaning the Catalan manager had little time to work on his team’s shortcomings before the match. start of the 2020-21 Premier. League season.
Quarantines, internationals and holidays have shortened a preseason generally reserved for adjustment tactics.
What makes it even more difficult is that City’s problems last season are difficult to explain and cannot be attributed to simple factors like a weak defense, a lack of creativity or a lack of goals.
City were the Premier League’s top scorer, goalkeeper Ederson won the Gold Glove for the most clean sheets and Player of the Year Kevin De Bruyne equaled the record for most assists in a single season. They also beat Liverpool 4-0.
However, City lost nine times in the league alone, including once to Norwich, which ended up touching bottom, 14 points from safety.
In that sense, City have become a truly confusing team. How can they create 28 chances against Watford and win 8-0, but then create 26 chances against Southampton and not score in a 1-0 loss?
Remember, this is largely the same team that posted record points in its previous two seasons, but then lost more games than during any previous campaign in the last 10 years.
Getting it right will put even a tactical genius like Guardiola to the test, and the answers will not simply be found in the transfer market, although City have made some moves to strengthen their player panel.
Of course, the most exciting transfer saga of the summer finally ended in disappointment, when Lionel Messi stayed at Barcelona, but the six-time Ballon d’Or winner would have been a luxury purchase, a once-in-a-lifetime signing. . rather than being a key part of a long-term strategy to maintain team form and quality.
City got a couple of deals early in the window and both transfers will go some way to help address the lack of depth that was exposed by the loss of Aymeric Laporte, when he was out for six months with a knee injury, and the winger Leroy Sane, who did not kick a ball all season and has now moved to Bayern Munich.
Dutch defender Nathan Ake may not have been the biggest name available on the market, coming to the Etihad after a disappointing relegation with Bournemouth, but there are many reasons to suggest that he will fit into the City system.
Brought in through Chelsea Academy and with close to 150 Premier League appearances to his name, Ake will add some much-needed composure and organization to a defense that seemed uncertain when Laporte was absent.
In addition to being comfortable on the ball, he spent much of his time at the Cherries playing in a back-three, something Guardiola tried to have a disastrous effect in their Champions League quarter-final loss to Lyon.
City’s other newcomer is former Valencia winger Ferran Torres, who has since become a full Spain international, making his price tag of a £ 21 million ($ 27 million) starting fee a cut. absolute.
The 20-year-old is a direct replacement for Sane, who was sorely missed last year. City lacked a forward with his speed, frankness and ability to stretch the field.
More reinforcements are likely to come before the transfer window closes on October 5, with Senegalese center-back Kalidou Koulibaly as the main target, even if negotiations with Napoli move slowly.
Guardiola was cautious in his first press conference of the new season and did not want to discuss the club’s transfer business in too much detail, especially since he was speaking for the first time about the possibility of signing Messi.
But he insisted that he was happy with his luck.
“Since I came here, I have been more than satisfied in the team, and the club always does its best, not only for me, but for the team,” he said.
“Even if we have to stay with the players we have, I’ll be happy, and if we have to move someone, maybe it’s because the player decides to leave.
“I’ve never complained before and I never will. I’m lucky to have these players and to be at this club. That’s it.”
However, Guardiola will undoubtedly demand more from those who underperformed last season, with Benjamin Mendy taking on the troubled left-back, and Bernardo Silva needs to rediscover his best form.
The loss of David Silva will be deeply felt, but Phil Foden is ready to take on his role and Gabriel Jesús must now prove that he can be Sergio Agüero’s full-time successor as the injury-prone City legend enters the Los Angeles. last 12 months of your contract.
Rivals have grown stronger and it would be difficult to argue that Liverpool do not have the best starting eleven in the Premier League.
However, City arguably possess the deepest squad and, in the shortest season in Premier League history, that could be crucial.
“My feelings are good as always,” Guardiola said. “It’s a joy to work with these players at this club, so the feeling is as good as ever.”
With the clock ticking on Guardiola’s time at the Etihad Stadium, one thing is for sure: he will do everything he can to leave the club the winner.
