Guardiola

Guardiola wins 2022-23 Premier League Manager of the Season

Premier League champions Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has been awarded the Premier League Manager of the Season 2022-23 for the fourth consecutive time. The Spaniard took his club Manchester City to the title for the fourth time in the last five seasons.

Football & Studs

Football & Studs

Pep Guardiola has been a boon for Manchester City. The former Barcelona manager guided City to their third Premier League title in a row and a fifth in six years, as well as securing places in the final of the FA Cup and Champions League. “I am at an incredible football club and without all of the support that I have had throughout my time here, this would not have been possible,” Guardiola said in a club statement.

Guardiola is only the second manager in Premier League history to have won more than three awards after Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson. He faced competition from Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, Brighton & Hove Albion’s Roberto De Zerbi, Newcastle United’s Eddie Howe, and Fulham’s Marco Silva to win the prestigious award.

Manchester City released a statement congratulating Pep Guardiola for his achievements and well-deserved honour.

After winning the Premier League, Manchester City have an important task cut out for them. The champions will be facing fellow Manchester rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Also, they have the most important match of the season i.e. Champions League final against Inter Milan.

Pep Guardiola masterclass powers Manchester City to the finals of Champions League

Pep Guardiola masterclass powers Manchester City to the finals of Champions League

After being on the losing side in the 2020/21 UEFA Champions League finals, Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City defeated defending champions Real Madrid 4-0 in the second leg to reach the finals of the 2022/23 UEFA Champions League. The Premier League leaders will be facing Inter Milan in the finals.

Football & Studs

Football & Studs

Manchester City who are chasing the treble overwhelmed the 14-time European champions to book their place in the finals. After drawing the first leg 1-1, the Men in Blue destroyed Real Madrid’s defense to make it 5-1 on aggregate. Bernardo Silva, Manuel Akanji, and Julian Alvarez registered their names on the scoresheet.

Manchester City manager Guardiola said: “In the Premier League we are close, we know we need one more game. We play against our neighbours and against an Italian team in the finals. The season is really, really good. Now we have to lift it. We are close and of course, we are going to try.”

He further added,” Everything was there – the energy we had from a year of being criticized as players for not having character when we lost.”

Real Madrid looked a very bleak side in the second leg. Carlo Ancelotti, manager of Real Madrid said, “I think that Manchester City deserved to win because they played better than us.”

The goal for Manchester City is to win the treble. The Etihad Stadium-based club will be facing Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul on 11th June. Additionally, the club will be facing fellow Manchester rivals “Manchester United” in the FA Cup final in Wembley on 3rd June.

Pep Guardiola masterclass powers Manchester City to the finals of Champions League

Manchester City Rout Everton, Put One Foot in the Premier League Title

Current Premier League table toppers Manchester City thrashed Everton to edge closer to its 3rd successive Premier League title. The Men in Blue won 3-0 with skipper Ilkay Gundogan scoring a double to take his side to a comfortable victory.

Manchester City’s four-point advantage over an Arsenal side who have played a game more means they will win the title on Saturday – if Arsenal loses at Nottingham Forest – or on Sunday if they beat Chelsea.

Arsenal, who have been leading the Premier League title charge have slipped massively after the huge defeat to Brighton. The Mikel Arteta-led side lost 3-0 to Brighton to remove any signs of them winning the Premier League title.

Pep Guardiola, who is about to lift the trophy for the fourth time in the last five seasons was ecstatic with his team’s victory. The manager commented, “From minute one we took the game in our hands. We controlled the game. We were patient and attacked the spaces.”

Guardiola’s Manchester City are on the verge of completing their treble. The Premier League defending champions have drawn the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals against Real Madrid. The club will host Real Madrid for the second leg on Wednesday and make another Champions League final.

Additionally, the English club will be facing fellow Manchester rivals; Manchester United in the FA Cup finals on 3rd June at Wembley Stadium.

Erling-Haaland-goals

Erling Haaland sets a new Premier League record

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has created a new record in the English Premier League. The Norwegian scored his record-breaking 35th Premier League goal of the season to help secure a 3-0 victory against West Ham United that sent his side back to the top of the Premier League table.

Haaland’s 35th top-flight goal of the season came via a deft finish in the second half of a 3-0 win against the Hammers that sent Manchester City back to the top of the league. He was given a guard of honor by his teammates, boss Pep Guardiola, and the club’s backroom staff after the final whistle at Etihad Stadium.

Haaland, who has been prolific for Manchester City this entire season, has surpassed the previous best mark held by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer. In a post-match interview, the star striker said, “It’s a special night and a special moment. I’m really happy and proud.”

He further stated, “It feels amazing and I’m really happy and I’m also happy for the three points.” The Norwegian has another five games to add to his tally.

Haaland, in his debut season in English football, has set the new marker in just his 31st game of the year. His 35 goals are also the most by a player in a single campaign in the English top division since Ron Davies scored 37 for Southampton in 1966-67, while Dixie Dean boasts the record with 60 in 39 games for Everton in 1927-28.

Pep Guardiola masterclass powers Manchester City to the finals of Champions League

Manchester City thump Bayern Munich in UEFA Champions League quarter-finals

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City has dismantled Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich 3-0 in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals at City’s home ground Etihad Stadium.

Manchester City, who are on a nine-game winning streak, saw them attack the opposition from the word go. And the English club succeeded, with Rodri scoring a stunning goal in the 27th minute. Manchester City made a string of attacks on the opposition’s defense never to allow them to settle.

In the second half, Bayern improved their performance. The Bundesliga table-toppers made counter-attacks but to no avail. However, Manchester City showcased the loopholes in Bayern’s defense as they scored two quick goals thanks to Bernardo Silva and City’s magic man Erling Haaland.

In the post-match interview, Guardiola stated, “We made some changes and our pressing was more effective. With the ball we were better too, and I’m happy for the result.”

Man City might be feeling comfortable with the win but their manager Pep Guardiola has strictly told the team not to be complacent with the win. Manchester City next face Leicester City in the Premier League. However, their real test will be in the second leg of the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.

Erling-Haaland-goals

Man City’s five-star striker Haaland powers the club into UCL quarter-finals

German club RB Leipzig who held Manchester City to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Round of 16 match were simply destroyed by City striker Erling Haaland who scored five goals. The Pep Guardiola led-side beat the Bundesliga side 7-0 (8-1 on aggregate) to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Norwegian – whose five goals came within a devastating 35-minute spell – already had a hat-trick by half-time, a penalty, a close-range finish stemming from his pressing of the goalkeeper, and a scrappy third after Leipzig had cleared the ball off the line. Two more close-range finishes furthered the pain for the visitors, either side of Ilkay Gundogan and Kevin de Bruyne’s goals.

Haaland’s remarkable five-goal haul ensured he moved beyond the 30-goal mark in the Champions League, becoming the youngest goal scorer in the competition to reach that milestone – secured by his hat-trick strike just before the break. Also, Haaland now has 33 Champions League strikes in 25 appearances – the youngest player, at 22 years and 236 days, to reach 30. He eclipsed Tommy Johnson’s 38 City goals in the 1928-29 season.

Erling Haaland, who was subbed in the 58th minute, joked that he had told manager Pep Guardiola he wanted six when he was taken off. Speaking of City’s victory, he continued: “This was a big night. I am proud to play in the Champions League, I love this competition – as everyone knows. Five goals to win 7-0 at home, I am so happy!”

He further added, “We worked on pressing them for this game, especially at home but in every game we need to put the opposition under pressure. We are so good at winning the ball high up the pitch and moving forward quickly, working the ball to Kevin de Bruyne.”

In the process, Haaland joined the likes of Lionel Messi and Luiz Adriano for scoring five goals in a Champions League game.

Southampton defeats Man City in EFL Cup

Southampton shock Man City; knocks them out of EFL Cup

Manchester City’s stocks have been on the decline recently. After being 5 points behind leaders Arsenal in the Premier League, the club has crashed out of the EFL Cup, aka Carabao Cup. The Premier League defending champs lost to Southampton 2-0 thanks to goals from Sekou Mara and Moussa Djenepo.

Pep Guardiola’s decision to name an under-strength squad for the match backfired massively. There was no chemistry in the playing XI. The second-half substitutes Erling Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and Ederson also didn’t quite help the cause. The Blues didn’t muster a single shot on target as Pep Guardiola lost a domestic cup quarter-final for the first time in his managerial career.

Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse told Sky Sports that his side played without fear and praised new manager Nathan Jones. He said, “[It is] a special night. These games are special to play in especially when you’re struggling in the league. We knew this was a distraction from the league and a great showcase. We showed no fear.”

Southampton will now take on Newcastle United in the semifinals for a chance to meet either Manchester United or Nottingham Forest in the final.

Erling Haaland

Erling Haaland becomes the quickest to 20 Premier League goals

Manchester City’s star striker Erling Haaland has created history. The star has created a record after he became the quickest player to score 20 goals in the English Premier League.

The 22-year-old has incredibly achieved the feat in just 14 games – seven matches fewer than previous record holder Kevin Phillips, who achieved the feat in just 21 games during the 1999/00 season for Sunderland.

The striker achieved the feat during Manchester City’s league game against Leads United, wherein the Norwegian wonderkid scored a tap-in goal in the 51st minute to carve his name in history.

After the game, Man City boss Pep Guardiola paid tribute to Haaland, although he admitted Haaland should have scored more at Elland Road. The tactical master said, “We are delighted with how humble he is. He scored a lot of goals, but he could have scored more. He helps us a lot.”

He further added, “He’s an exceptional guy with his work ethic and professionalism. It’s a great threat to our opponents, having him there.”

In total, Haaland has found the back of the net on 26 occasions in all competitions – with 20 coming in the top flight.

With the current goal-scoring rate, it’s not too long before Haaland goes past the all-time record of Mohammad Salah for most goals scored in one Premier League season (32 goals during the 2017/18 season).

Guardiola

How Pep Guardiola transformed Manchester City into a giant

“Sometimes you have a noisy neighbour. You cannot do anything about that. They will always be noisy” is what the great Sir Alex Fergusen had to say about Manchester City back in 2009. 13 years later, Manchester City changed their status from the “noisy neighbours” to the dominant ones. Manchester City has won 4 of the last 5 Premier League titles, which might give an idea about their dominance in recent times. What changed? The answer is simple, Josep “Pep” Guardiola Sala.

Many might argue that the “Oil Money” is the real reason behind City’s recent success. But that’s not it; a stat shows that Chelsea and Manchester United have also spent close to Manchester City in the last decade, but the returns have not been the same. Pep Guardiola joined Manchester City in 2016 and took no time to take over the Premier League. Let’s have a look at how Pep Guardiola transformed Manchester City. 

How Pep Guardiola transformed Manchester City into a giant? 

Before Pep Guardiola, there was Manuel Pellegrini, who enjoyed a successful run of 3 years at the helm of Manchester City. During his term, Pellegrini won a Premier League title in the 2013-14 season and two Carabao Cups. However, Pellegrini faced a fair share of tactical problems as he went through long spells of sticking to the same formation despite poor results. 

Pep Guardiola took over an ageing City squad that lacked pace and couldn’t press aggressively. Manchester City initially wanted to sign Pep Guardiola in 2012 but missed out on the deal as the Spaniard went on to lead Bayern Munich in Germany. 

However, Manchester City was well prepared to sign Pep Guardiola in 2017. The Blues got in some major names from Barcelona, with whom Pep Guardiola was comfortable working in the past. Man City signed Ferran Soriano as their CEO, Txiki Begiristain as their Director of football, and Dr. Mauri to make Pep Guardiola feel at home in Manchester. 

Pep Guardiola was arguably one of the best managers in the world with his legendary run with Barcelona and Bayern Munich. However, many of the English media were not convinced whether his methodologies would work in the Premier League. Nevertheless, Pep answered all their queries. 

2016-17 

Pep Guardiola identified some major setbacks in the City squad as soon as he arrived at the club. They had an old squad under their belt. In fact, only Watford, Stokes, and West Brom had higher average squad ages than Manchester City. Adding to that, Pep Guardiola was not happy with some of the names in the squad who didn’t suit his playing style. 

Wilfried Bony was not technically strong. Joe Hart and Eliaquim Mangala were not good enough on the ball. And as per reports, Manchester City’s superstars Yaya Touré and Samir Nasri didn’t have the required discipline to be in Pep Guardiola’s team.

Pep Guardiola bought in players like Ilkay Gundagon, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Nolito, Leroy Sane, Claudio Bravo, and Gabriel Jesus in his very first season. At the same time, Guardiola got rid of players like Mangala, Jovetic, Martín Demichelis, Nasri, Joe Hart, J Navas, and Bony. Guardiola let go of the ageing players and replaced them with some of the best young talents in the world at that time. 

However, despite some major changes, Pep Guardiola still struggled to find his best XI in his first season. He used a total of 8 different formations in 38 matches. However, City saw some major improvements in Pep’s first season itself. Guardiola’s side scored more goals, allowed fewer goals, and kept more possession than Pellegrini’s. 

Having said that, Pep Guardiola didn’t win any silverware with Man City in his first season and finished 3rd in the Premier League. It was a decent season, but there was still pressure mounting over Guardiola as he was accused of not adapting to the style of the Premier League. 

What did Pep Guardiola say about the start he got in his first season? 

“Yeah. I don’t know what would have happened had we not been able to win the games. I can assure you something, my players always run. And after that, we must try to play as well as possible to achieve the result and win the games. But first is to play good, and to play good, you have to run, and I was pretty sure we could do that. In some moments, we played really well; it’s just the quality of the intelligence of these players.” 

“You can make a training session; you can say this or that. Some understand quickly; some need more time. Most get it quickly. That is why we are a little surprised about how fast, in some moments, we have been in our three games: we played really well. Not for 90 minutes – that is not normal – but how stable they [the players] are. In terms of full games, we have to improve a lot. 

“Yesterday I saw the game v Stoke City again and thought about many things we must improve. But in the short time, we have spent together, we have made many good things. That is why I am confident that it will remain this way and we will have solidarity and help each other. We can achieve good things.” 

2017-18 

However, Pep Guardiola didn’t waste time rejuvenating Manchester City’s squad. Pep got talents like Ederson, Bernardo Silva, Danilo, Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, and Aymeric Laporte in the very next transfer window. And with that, Manchester City transferred out players like Nasri, Nolito, Sagna, Bony, Clichy, Iheanacho, and Kolarov. With this transformation, Man City became the 6th youngest squad in the league. 

Pep Guardiola had the team he needed to begin his supremacy in English football. Pep Guardiola won his first Premier League title with City in his second season with 100 points on the table. Man City were 29 points clear of the second-placed Manchester United in that very specific season. Manchester City asserted their hold in the upcoming seasons and went on to win 3 out of the 4 league titles. 

Pep Guardiola built and created one of the best teams in the history of the Premier League. However, he still has one trophy missing from his cabinet: the Champions League. He had come close to winning the Champions League in 2021 but eventually lost to rivals Chelsea in the final.

With the inclusion of Erling Haaland this season, we might see Pep Guardiola achieving his long-lasting dream of winning the Champions League trophy since 2011. 

Trophies won by Manchester City since Guardiola became their manager;

  1. Premier League (2017/18, 2018/19 and 2020/21)
  2. The FA Cup (2018/19) 
  3. The League Cup (2017/2018, 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21)
  4. The FA Community Shield (2018/19 and 2019/20)
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