As the final whistle blew on Manchester City’s fourth straight loss across all competitions against Brighton, speculation swirled that we may be witnessing the end of an era. Though it’s only November in the 2024/25 season and far too early to make such bold predictions, the reality is that, at some point, City’s reign will come to a close. Pep Guardiola acknowledged this in his post-match comments following City’s 2-1 defeat.
Reflecting on the loss, Guardiola told reporters, “It is what people want, for us to be finished. We have won a lot, it happened. The end is going to come; it is not eternal. In the next 55 years, City is not going to win every season of the Premier League, it is not going to happen.”
It’s true that nothing lasts forever in football, but City will aim to stay at the top for as long as they can. The cycles of football are inevitable; eras come and go, players age, managers move on, and teams face rebuilding phases. While Manchester City is not immune to these cycles, they’ve already begun preparing for the future, with Hugo Viana set to take over from Txiki Begiristain as director of football after this season.
But declaring City’s dominance over so soon is premature. With the season still in its early stages, being five points behind the top in November isn’t an insurmountable setback. City has closed such gaps before, and there’s no reason they can’t do it again.
However, recent performances have cast doubts, with some suggesting that this core group of senior players may be on their last lap. Time will tell if this season marks a transition period or simply a challenging chapter for Guardiola and his squad.
One thing is certain: Guardiola and his players won’t let their era fade quietly. As Guardiola noted, the end may come one day, but that challenge alone will fuel their drive to snap out of this slump after the international break. They’re too proud to let their dominance fade without a fight.
