After Manchester City’s recent defeat to Brighton, the team entered the international break on a rare streak of four consecutive losses across all competitions—a first under Pep Guardiola. Some have speculated that this marks the end of City’s era of dominance, but history suggests it would be unwise to count them out too soon. Known for their resilience, Guardiola’s teams have a reputation for bouncing back hard from setbacks, and City will be looking to do just that when they return to action after the break.
Dutch journalist Nico Dijkshoorn recently wrote in Voetbal International that he finds Guardiola’s supposed “decline” satisfying, contrasting Guardiola’s often distant media style with that of Arne Slot, who he praises for his openness. “That’s probably why I enjoy Pep Guardiola’s decline so much,” Dijkshoorn remarked. “Pep has been keeping journalists at a distance with cynicism and irony for years…now there’s no way back.”
However, talk of Guardiola’s “decline” may be premature. There are clear reasons for City’s current struggles, including injuries, fatigue, and facing motivated opponents. Guardiola’s track record has shown that adversity tends to fuel his teams rather than defeat them. The club’s recent history is filled with dramatic comebacks—overcoming point deficits to secure league titles—and right now, City are only 5 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League after 11 games. This isn’t unfamiliar territory for them, and a winning streak to reclaim momentum is entirely possible. Guardiola’s resilience has always flowed through his team, and City will aim to launch that familiar comeback when they face Tottenham at the Etihad after the international break.
In the words of Ruben Dias, City’s players aren’t fazed by the doubters, and it will be interesting to see how the narrative unfolds by season’s end. For now, Dijkshoorn may relish Guardiola’s supposed “decline,” but he might have a different perspective by May.
