The era of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City has come to an end after ten seasons, with 20 trophies to show for his performance.
The Catalan boss won six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, three FA Cups, five League Cups, three Community Shields, a UEFA Super Cup, and a FIFA Club World Cup, cementing himself as the greatest manager in the club's history.
Following the announcement of his departure, the club announced they would be naming the new North Stand in his honour, while a statue has also been comissioned to celebrate his achievements in the blue half of Manchester. But it also sparked a big debate: what is his greatest ever XI during his time at the Etihad Stadium?
GIVEMESPORT has taken a look at the options and settled upon this lineup as the only possible answer to what will forever be a controversial question.
Goalkeeper
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson
While Guardiola was at the club for ten years, there is one player who was there for almost the entirety of that spell, and that is goalkeeper Ederson.
The Brazilian spent eight seasons with the club, joining the year after Guardiola and leaving last summer, following an incredible 372 appearances for the club. He won every trophy available to him during his time at the Etihad Stadium, keeping an unbelievable 164 clean sheets in the process, including a club-record 122 clean sheets in the Premier League.
While Gianluigi Donnarumma has had a great maiden campaign, there was no other option than Ederson for this position.
Defenders
Manchester-City-Vincent-Kompany
Manchester City's Vincent Kompany
Another position that almost picks itself in this team for Guardiola is at right-back, where Kyle Walker became one of the best in the world during his time under the Catalan coach.
His unbelievable pace and technical quality made him one of the first names on the team sheet, and despite some competition, there was no other logical choice. At left-back, however, it's a much more difficult decision.
The position has regularly been a problem area for Pep during his time in England, with the likes of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Josko Gvardiol, Nathan Ake, Gael Clichy, Fabian Delph, and most recently, Nico O'Reilly all having success. But one name was better than the rest in that role, despite it not being his natural position, and that was Joao Cancelo.
The Portugal international was a creative force from the back and made the inverted full-back role his own, and deserves his place in this side.
At centre-back, there were some difficult decisions to be made, also. Vincent Kompany, the legendary City skipper has to go in based on everything he achieved with the club, and the likes of Aymeric Laporte and Manuel Akanji also had a fair shout. But it ultimately came down to Ruben Dias and John Stones, with the England international getting he nod as he also prepares to depart the club.
Midfielders
Kevin De Bruyne in action for Manchester City
The midfield is both the most difficult and easiest area of the pitch to select.
Guardiola has had an abundance of quality in his squad over the years, with the likes of Fernandinho, Ilkay Gundogan, and Phil Foden all playing key roles in separate title wins for Guardiola. He even had Yaya Toure available to him at one point, although the pair never really saw eye to eye.
But it's incredibly difficult to argue that the 55-year-old's midfield three of choice would be anything other than Rodri sitting behind David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne. The Spaniard won the Ballon d'Or he was so good during the treble season, while Silva is considered by many to be the club's greatest ever player.
Then you have the creative force that is De Bruyne, who registered 177 assists and scored 108 goals in 422 appearances for the club. That simply cannot be ignored.
Forwards
Sterling, Aguero, De Bruyne - Premier League - Manchester City vs Leicester City
In attack, there has to be room for former England winger Raheem Sterling on the left-hand side. The electric forward managed 120 goals and 77 assists under Guardiola in 292 games, and was key to the club winning trophies consistently for years before his move to Chelsea.
The opposite wing is a bit more difficult. Leroy Sane, Jeremy Doku, and Riyad Mahrez all have a fair shout at a claim for the right wing, with each player having had phenomenal careers at the Etihad Stadium. But it's impossible to have a team of Guardiola's best players without including Bernardo Silva, and the Portugal star takes it ahead of his ex-colleagues.
Up front, there are only two options - Erling Haaland or Sergio Aguero. The Argentine was absolutely lethal during his time in the Premier League, but there was always something about him with Pep that never felt completely natural. Enter the Norwegian, and the team went up a whole new level.
Haaland has scored 162 goals in 198 games for the club, more than anyone else during Guardiola's time at City, and has earned his spot as the number nine.
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Guardiola could make a sensational move in the near future 😱