Manchester City’s decline so far must be a welcome development for several managers in the Premier League.
Arne Slot, Enzo Maresca and Mikel Arteta in particular would be delighted that Pep Guardiola’s men do not look like they are ready to push them for the title this season.
It seems like all Manchester City can do is accept that the 2024/2025 campaign is a transitional season for them.
Much like Liverpool in the 2020/2021 and 2022/2023 seasons under Jurgen Klopp where they failed to win a single trophy while finishing third and fifth in both campaigns respectively, City might be set to undergo a similar fate.
In the summer of 2025, it was reported last Tuesday that Manchester City could rebuild their squad.
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Once the Sky Blues do so, they could return to become the winning machine they have been during Pep Guardiola’s reign.
But all the signs suggest that the end of a cycle has emerged for this City side.
Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Crystal Palace FC and Manchester City FC at Selhurst ...
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Simon Jordan happy Man City ‘monopoly’ could end this season
During Pep Guardiola’s eight full seasons in charge at the Etihad Stadium, he has managed to mastermind them to six league titles — turning the English top-flight into a one-team division for all practical purposes.
Winning four out of the four league titles, City’s dominance reached an unprecedented standard last season — which must have been an unfortunate sight for their rivals and their supporters.
But as Manchester City have huffed and puffed along this campaign, Simon Jordan has expressed his delight on talkSPORT.
“Listen, I’m not for or against Man City, despite people’s perception but what I am against is dominance of a league. So, I’m quite pleased that Man City aren’t sitting on top of the league, running away with it.”
“I don’t think the monopoly of any league, whether that’s the French league or the German league or the Premier League is a good thing.”
It would be premature to claim that City’s season is over, considering they have shown time and again that writing them off too early is a fool’s errand.
David Ornstein’s view of Manchester City’s transfer plans is that judging by his conversations with agents, sporting directors, players and other high-profile names in the footballing industry, they expect the winter window to light up if the Premier League champions make a move.
Manchester City’s transfer shortlist includes three midfielders, namely Martin Zubimendi, Javi Guerra and Ederson, as per a revelation in November, which could suggest they are ready to splash the cash in January.
Pep Guardiola’s message to Man City players
Pep Guardiola’s advice to Manchester City’s players was to embrace the challenge that this season has brought to the table in terms of their constant injury woes and poor run of form.
“I said to the players, don’t feel sorry, please. Accept the challenge, it’ll be more difficult, and maybe at the end, we’ll have more satisfaction in the way we’re going to behave in these problems than maybe in other seasons that we won the Premier League title.”
It does not seem like Guardiola is ready to lay down his sword yet.
Neither will this current crop of City players, who are seasoned winners.
However, much like Simon Jordan, one can imagine several neutrals will be hoping that another team wins the league title instead of the Sky Blues.
Pep Guardiola will be aware of such outside noise and ensure Manchester City feed off such claims in their fight for the title this campaign.
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