Pep Guardiola’s Ruthless Approach Highlighted in City’s Treble-Winning Season
During Manchester City’s historic treble-winning campaign, Pep Guardiola showcased his trademark decisiveness, crafting a core starting XI that left little room for rotation in crucial matches. Despite his reputation for tactical fluidity, Guardiola’s lineup consistency became key to the team’s success.
The favored lineup featured Ederson in goal, a defensive line of Manuel Akanji, John Stones, Ruben Dias, and Nathan Ake, a midfield trio of Rodri, Ilkay Gundogan, and Kevin De Bruyne, and a front three of Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, and Jack Grealish. Even stars like Phil Foden, Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez, and Aymeric Laporte often found themselves on the bench during major fixtures, a reflection of Guardiola’s “best XI” strategy.
Begiristain Opens Up on Challenging 2023 Summer Window
City’s treble-winning dominance came at a price. In the upcoming documentary Together: Four in a Row, City’s Director of Football, Txiki Begiristain, described the 2023 summer transfer window as “awful” due to the challenges of player dissatisfaction.
“After winning the treble, everyone was confused,” Begiristain revealed. “The protagonists from those trophies wanted more or new contracts, and those who didn’t play in finals were p—-d off and trying to leave the club.”
Laporte’s Frustration and Departure
Among the players who departed, Aymeric Laporte’s exit to Al-Nassr highlighted the complexities Guardiola faced. Laporte expressed frustration over limited playing time and being deployed as a wide center-back, a role he found unnatural.
“For a year or two, I wasn’t playing in my ideal position,” Laporte explained. “I was used to being a center-back, not on the wing. It became frustrating, and with other center-backs being signed, I felt it was time to leave.”
Laporte’s minimal involvement during the 2022/23 season underscored his frustrations. He started just 20 matches across all competitions—significantly fewer than departing teammates Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez.
| Competition | Gundogan Starts | Mahrez Starts | Laporte Starts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 27 | 22 | 11 |
| Champions League | 12 | 6 | 3 |
| FA Cup | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Carabao Cup | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Total | 45 | 35 | 20 |
Laporte also alluded to a discrepancy in Guardiola’s stance on player departures. While Guardiola had previously claimed, “If someone doesn’t want to be here, let them go,” Laporte suggested his departure was more complex. “For some players, it wasn’t like that. I decided to leave, and I was able to leave, but there’s more to it,” he noted cryptically.
Mahrez and Gundogan’s Legacy
Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan—both instrumental in City’s success—also moved on. Gundogan joined Barcelona after captaining City to the treble, while Mahrez made a switch to Al-Ahli. Their contributions left an indelible mark on Guardiola’s side, but their departures signaled the club’s intent to refresh its squad with new signings like Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, and Jeremy Doku.
Guardiola’s Winning Formula
While departures like Laporte’s highlight the challenges of maintaining squad harmony, Guardiola’s unrelenting focus on performance proved decisive. “If they don’t do what they have to do, they won’t play,” Guardiola famously stated, emphasizing his unwavering commitment to excellence.
The 2023 summer reshuffle reflected the growing pains of sustained success. However, with Guardiola at the helm and a reinvigorated squad, Manchester City remains well-positioned to defend their titles and continue their dominance in the seasons ahead.
