Search

Newsletter image

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Join 10k+ people to get notified about new posts, news and tips.

Do not worry we don't spam!

GDPR Compliance

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, Privacy Policy, and Terms of Service.

Man City face a bigger rebuild than Man Utd with Pep Guardiola needing half a dozen top players in transfer window

Published on April 06, 2025 at 06:04 AM

PEP GUARDIOLA always insisted this season would be an almighty challenge — but he never expected the proof to be so painful.

After four titles in a row with a side that many people — myself included — were calling the best in the world only a couple of years earlier, he wasn’t the only one.

Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager.
Pep Guardiola has endured a tough season with Manchester City

Nobody doubted the need for a total rebuild in Manchester, although you might well have been talking about Ruben Amorim’s boys, too.

With United heading for their worst season since they went down in 1974 and with their own boss slaughtering his side, it’s one that has got bigger by the week.

So if anything summed up how City haven’t so much slipped but absolutely plummeted, it is the notion Pep, not Amorim,is the manager with the biggest rebuild on his hands.

That, plus the fact there is actually a grain of truth in the joke that Sky are promoting today’s game as the mid-table .

Pep knows nothing lasts for ever. And with the up for grabs, there is every chance he won’t end without a trophy for the first time since his debut year in .

But the problem is when you’ve made such a habit of winning, that doesn’t make for a successful season.

Make no bones about it, this has been a disaster. City started as odds-on to win a fifth title on the bounce. With eight games left, they can’t even be sure of the top four.

For years it’s not been about whether City will win a trophy, more about how many. If it’s “only”; one there are those who even see it as a disappointment.

Pep Guardiola and Ruben Amorim interacting before a Premier League match.
Guardiola's Man City and Ruben Amorim's Man Utd both need a rebuild to compete again

If you’d said in August that, with two months to go, it would be FA Cup or bust I’d have laughed in your face.

By the way, don’t think that’s a gimme either. The bookies may have City as huge favourites but they’re not playing like it.

There hasn’t been much of the season when they have.

I have to admit I don’t think they will do again — notwithout a mass overhaul.

Losing was massive, especially when you’ve had to play people out of position to replace him at right-back.

Something he has had to do all season on the other flank, too.

is still a fantastic player but not the one he was, is coming to the end, and could be off this summer.

will be fit again, of course. But how long will it take to get up to speed again?

So you see what I mean about how the Etihad rebuild is quite probably even bigger than the one at Old Trafford.

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City celebrating.
Kevin De Bruyne has announced that he will leave Manchester City in the summer
Rodri of Manchester City during a UEFA Champions League match.
Rodri could take a while to get back to his best following his ACL injury

There’s still the verdict — and potentialpunishment — from the charges [for allegedly breaching the Prem’s financial rules] hanging over them. How’s that going to affect things?

Pep has beenbrilliant with what he’s created. There’s every chance it will go down as the greatest side the Prem has ever seen.

But climbing that high means there is farther to fall if you stumble… and City are struggling to keep their feet right now.

It demands genius recruitment this summer, and I keep asking the same question: where do you find the talent at the level they need?

Arsenal spent a year looking for a centre-forward and couldn’t manage it. Pep faces the same problem in about half-a-dozen positions.

After so many titles and a , a top-four finish is no reason to celebrate. Even with an FA Cup thrown in.

There’s a reason I’m tipping a draw today. Not because it’s a battle between two giants who will cancel each other out — more that neither is good enough to win!

Manchester City's Erling Haaland and Manchester United's Harry Maguire vying for the ball during a Premier League match.
The Manchester derby kicks off at 4:30pm on Sunday
Prev Article

Christopher Biggins slams ‘appalling’ Big Brother after his controversial axing and says he hates ‘boring’ show

Next Article

I won £20k on a reality show last year but now I’m poor, unemployed and living back with my parents

Related to this topic:

Comments (0):

Be the first to write a comment.

Post Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *