Last November 21st, Pep Guardiola renewed his contract with Manchester City until 2027. A strong signal from the owners at a particularly delicate moment for the team. An invitation to the players not to lower their guard because the Catalan’s cycle was not yet over. A move which, however, did not reverse the trend: before the signing there were 4 consecutive knockouts, after the signing there were two more knockouts and a draw against Feyenoord which, given how it matured (from 3-0 to City in the 74th minute to 3-3) was even worse than a defeat.
The dramatic response to Liverpool fans
In Liverpool, in Sunday’s big match, perhaps for the first time in the Guardioli era, City’s fate was already sealed. And in fact 2-0 for i reds which brings them to +11 in the rankings. City who in the meantime have been overtaken by Arsenal and Chelsea and caught up by Brighton. Never in his career had Guardiola gone 7 games without a win and never with 4 consecutive defeats in the league. At the end of the match the coach tried to show optimism: “Call me delusional, but I have the feeling that from here on out we will rebuild our confidence and start winning again.” The true image of Anfield, however, is his gesture of anger towards Liverpool: “They’ll sack you in the morning” is the chant started by the Liverpool fans reds with Guardiola in response indicating with his hands the number 6, as many as City’s Premier League successes under his management. A reaction to Mourinho, certainly not what we were used to from the former Barça player.
The scenarios
Obviously there will be no layoffs today and it is highly unlikely that there will be any soon. The feeling is that if the paths between Guardiola and City were to separate, it will be by choice of the coach himself. Otherwise we move forward together, as agreed. And the impression is that some heads within the team will roll: Kevin De Bruyne is out of contract and the player himself has fueled doubts about his stay. Gundogan is back but until June. Bernardo Silva (expires 2026) has repeatedly expressed in various interviews his dream of playing for Benfica while still in full form, Kyle Walker was a player who could have already left in recent transfer sessions.