It has been a rarity for Pep Guardiola to make mistakes during his managerial career.
Since dominating English and European football at Manchester City, the Catalan boss has further cemented his reputation as one of the greatest tacticians to have ever graced the game.
But Pep Guardiola is only human and he can have off days as well.
For instance, the former Bayern Munich manager’s decision not to start a defensive midfielder in City’s 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League final in 2021 is widely regarded as a blunder.
However, Rodri revealed Pep Guardiola’s tactical brilliance in the final in 2023 as he demanded the Sky Blues players to find the free man to penetrate Inter Milan’s deep block, which was Manuel Akanji who kickstarted the attack that led to the game’s one and only goal.
Pep Guardiola told Man City not to sign Michael Olise
Even the great Guardiola would admit that his decision not to sign Michael Olise was a mistake.
More Man City News
The reason why Pep Guardiola advised Manchester City to snub Olise is because he could not guarantee the Frenchman game time when he was at Crystal Palace, which he felt would disrupt the harmony in the dressing room unlike in Matheus Nunes’ case — whose addition he said yes to instead.
Manchester City v Crystal Palace - Premier League
Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images
However, looking at how the former Palace wideman has performed since moving to Bayern Munich would perhaps have prompted the two-time treble-winner to kick himself.
Olise would have been the perfect candidate to replace Riyad Mahrez, who left Manchester City in the summer of 2023 as he is also a left-footed right-winger, technically gifted, an excellent creator and proficient at leaving defenders for dead.
While Pep Guardiola is a huge fan of Savinho, the 20-year-old is far from the finished article while Jeremy Doku, who City signed two years ago is far more comfortable on the left-wing than on the right flank; with both players still not being productive enough to be deemed world-class.
On the other hand, Olise has amassed an incredible tally of 20 goals and 23 assists in all competitions during the 2024/2025 season, cementing his status as one of the best players in the world.
MICHAEL OLISE STATS FOR BAYERN MUNICH
STARTS 44
GOALS 20
ASSISTS 23
TOTAL 43
Even Erling Haaland registered 35 goal involvements (31 goals and four assists in all competitions), eight fewer than the 23-year-old’s tally of 43.
Even if Manchester City would have had to pay more than the £50.8 million (Sky Sports) Bayern did to sign Olise, the outlay would have been worth it considering he was Premier League-proven and just 21 at the time.
Oscar Bobb could be Manchester City’s next Michael Olise
However, Pep Guardiola can take solace in the fact that despite missing out on Olise, he has a gem of a talent in the Manchester City wonderkid, Oscar Bobb.
With Bobb keen to stay at Manchester City and being similarly technically gifted, possessing an eye for a pass and silky feet, he could very well go on to become an elite right-winger one day.