Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City Era: Season-by-Season Evolution

On February 1, it was confirmed that Pep Guardiola would head to east Manchester to test his methods in English football. Behind the scenes, significant work went into assembling a squad suited to his philosophy, but the season was largely one of transition as the new head coach assessed which players could adapt to his system and what needed to change. Kevin De Bruyne quickly emerged as an era-defining influence, his midfield brilliance shining through. City showed promise but finished third in the Premier League and were eliminated by Monaco in the Champions League last 16, leaving Guardiola trophyless in his debut campaign.

Bernardo Silva, Kyle Walker and Ederson headlined the summer arrivals, while numerous long-serving players were moved on. Everything was in place for Guardiola’s revolution, and City did not disappoint, dropping just two points in the first 20 Premier League matches. Liverpool were thrashed 5-0 in the fourth game but gained revenge by eliminating City in the Champions League quarter-finals. The first trophy of the Guardiola era arrived at Wembley, with Arsenal beaten in the League Cup final. No one could compete, and the title inevitably followed as City reached the 100-point mark and scored 106 goals, finishing 19 points clear of second-placed Manchester United, cementing their status as great entertainers.

A comparatively modest 98 points and 95 goals followed, but every point proved vital as Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool fought City to the wire. The two clubs exchanged the league lead 32 times over the season. City won their final 14 league matches en route to domestic glory, also lifting the League Cup and the FA Cup. Once again, an English team shattered their European dreams, as Tottenham surprisingly eliminated City in the Champions League quarter-finals on away goals after a dramatic tie in Manchester.

City fell spectacularly short in the league, finishing 18 points behind Liverpool. The pandemic made the season unusual, with the two legs of the Champions League last 16 played four months apart. A 4-2 aggregate win over Real Madrid felt like a turning point in Guardiola’s European journey, but City then lost to Lyon in a one-off quarter-final in Lisbon. They did not finish empty-handed, thanks to a 2-1 League Cup win over Aston Villa, with Sergio Agüero and Rodri showcasing their class.

A humiliating 5-2 home defeat to Leicester made Guardiola quickly realize something was wrong. To cut a long story short, £60 million was spent on center-back Rúben Dias, and City went on to win the league by 12 points ahead of Manchester United in a season largely played in empty stadiums. The League Cup also found its way into the cabinet, and the Champions League trophy was within sight for Guardiola and City for the first time in his tenure. They breezed to the final in Porto, facing Chelsea, who finished fourth in the Premier League, but Guardiola omitted defensive midfielder Rodri and City lost to Kai Havertz’s goal, a frustrating ending.

Everything went down to the final day, with City needing to beat Aston Villa to secure a fourth title of the Guardiola era. The visitors went two goals ahead, and with 15 minutes remaining, Liverpool needed just one more goal to go top. Two greats of the Guardiola epoch stepped up: Ilkay Gündogan and Rodri leveled matters, then a third goal—and a second from the German—within five minutes turned everything around in chaotic style, creating one of the most memorable finishes to a season. City’s Champions League exit was equally ludicrous, losing 6-5 on aggregate to Real Madrid after extra time. They were heading through at 90 minutes of the second leg, only to concede twice and eventually bow out.

This was the year everything fell into place for Guardiola and City. He changed his style, signing Erling Haaland to play as a No. 9, transforming the team’s nature. The Norwegian scored 52 goals across all competitions. The investment and tactical flexibility paid off as City bulldozed their way to the Champions League final. In the knockout stages, RB Leipzig, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were beaten 14-0 on aggregate at the Etihad Stadium. It was a nervous final against Inter in Istanbul, but Rodri earned Guardiola the historic victory he craved and the treble in the process. “It was written in the stars. It belongs to us,” Guardiola said.

How do you follow up a treble? By winning the final nine games to beat Arsenal to the title by two points for Guardiola’s sixth Premier League triumph. Real Madrid were once again a thorn in Guardiola’s side, beating City on penalties in the Champions League quarter-finals after a 4-4 aggregate draw. Further upset came in the FA Cup final when they lost to bitter rivals Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley. Guardiola also said goodbye to Klopp, who left Liverpool after years of touchline battles. “They have been our biggest rivals,” Guardiola said. “And personally he has been the best rival I ever had in my life – in Dortmund when I was in Bayern, then here.”

The campaign was a disaster by Guardiola’s standards as City struggled to compete on any level. “If this were Barça or Madrid, they would have sacked me,” Guardiola said. There was loyalty to players who had brought the club so far, but it was arguably a year too many for Walker and De Bruyne. Surgery on the squad came in January as City battled even to qualify for the Champions League in a season that ended without any major trophies. Their best shot at glory was in the FA Cup, but City meekly lost to Crystal Palace 1-0, adding a further footnote to the misery.

A further rebuild in the summer brought together a fresh, vibrant squad, but plenty of work remained to mold it into Guardiola’s image. It was a slow burner: City lost two of their opening three league games and, after four games without a win in January, challenging for first looked nigh-on impossible. City were resurgent, however, and made Arsenal sweat almost until the end. The cups were more fruitful, as Mikel Arteta’s side were brushed aside in the League Cup final and Chelsea beaten in the FA Cup final. Once again, Madrid punished City in Europe, making relatively light work of matters with a 5-1 win on aggregate in the last 16.