Pep Guardiola cited lack of motivation as main reason for leaving Barcelona (Image: Getty)
Concerns could be growing that Pep Guardiola could leave Manchester City for the same reason he left Barcelona after a dispiriting 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on Saturday. The defeat marks City's ninth defeat in 12 games, casting a shadow over Guardiola's future despite signing a new contract until 2027 last month.
This crisis stands in stark contrast to the dizzying success of City's recent treble 18 months ago. But one could draw similarities to how his tenure ended at Barcelona, where he led the team to unprecedented success before stepping down in 2012.
Despite being considered one of the greatest teams of all time under his leadership, Barcelona's continued success eventually took its toll. And City may be going through the same process after reaching new heights, perhaps finding motivation has become a growing concern.
“I felt like I couldn't lift the team anymore,” the Catalan great told Audi in 2014 (via The Mirror). “We have had incredible success. Winning 14 trophies in just four years was the greatest period in the club's history.
“But little by little, I found it more and more difficult to motivate myself and to motivate the team. That's when you know it's time to leave.”
Like Barca's 2012 roster, City have seen a decline from their peaks and are concerned about the aging of their squad. Guardiola's men are seventh in the Premier League, 22nd in the new Champions League standings and have already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup.
Pep headed for Barcelona exit on his own after struggling for motivation (Image: LLUIS GÈNE/AFP/GettyImages)
The 53-year-old has won six out of a possible eight Premier League crowns at City, not to mention a Champions League title, two FA Cups and four League Cups. However, their recent downturn demonstrates that even they can be affected by the cyclical nature of the sport.
There are fears that players like Kyle Walker (34), Ederson (31), Ilkay Gundogan (34) and injury-prone Kevin De Bruyne (33) are past their prime. And with a raft of senior contracts set to expire in 2026 and 2027, it appears City may be in need of a refresh.
Things go from bad to worse amid the worst period of Guardiola's coaching career (Image: Dani Garcia podcast)
There is also the small matter for City of its hearing into 130 charges of alleged financial misconduct. The serious allegations have hung over the club for some time now, with the verdict due in early 2025.
Between this uncertainty and the recent disappointment caused by the results on the field, motivation seems to be at its lowest at the Etihad. And it wouldn't be the first time the issue has prompted Guardiola to cut ties with a club, fearing he could no longer make the impact he wanted.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1992216/pep-guardiola-man-city-quit-job-barcelona