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STRUGGLING CITY LEFT TO
PEP GUARDIOLA wants the record books to read eight major trophies won as Manchester City manager – while the rest of us reckon it’s six.
Nobody on these shores has ever counted the Community Shield as anything more than a season curtain-raiser. Certainly not a major title, that’s for sure.
But ultimately, aside from Pep and the City PR machine, who cares?
This defeat against an impressive Spurs side means City won’t regain the Premier League title they won back-to-back just two seasons ago.
They have already dropped 12 points out of 24. Surely now the real question is will
Guardiola – widely regarded as the greatest modern manager – ever bring the most important piece of silverware in club football to The Etihad?
Yep, that so-far elusive Champions League trophy.
Of course, he has lifted it before. Twice, in fact, during that irrepressible era at the Barcelona helm when Lionel Messi and Co. swept all before them. However, Guardiola failed to deliver it at Bayern Munich and is has been equally conspicuous by its absence in four full seasons in Manchester.
The good news, though, is the Spanish super coach is in no mood to walk away without laying that ghost to rest.
Last week he signed a two-year contract extension, ending speculation that this bizarre Covid-hit campaign would be his last in this country.
And there is now more good news on that front because after this latest hiccup his troops can concentrate on Europe.
What a contrasting picture for new overnight league leaders Tottenham and their very own super boss, Jose Mourinho.
Manchester City’s visit was the first of five pre-Christmas fixtures against the big boys.
Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal and Leicester all follow in quick succession.
It’s fair to say by December 19 we will know if the Special One’s gang are genuine contenders to finish at the summit for the first time in 60 years.
Exactly 12 months after Mourinho’s appointment the signs are definitely promising.
Especially if they continue to pick up results like this when, in terms of possession and efforts on goal, they are thoroughly second best. That had been the case for the first five minutes last night.
But with Spurs’ opening attack Heung-min Son was found by Tanguy Ndombele’s pass and fired the hosts ahead.
It was a decent move for Son’s ninth league strike but way too easy from a City point of view.
Guardiola thought as much. He moaned, groaned, muttered and spluttered at anyone listening before slumping into his seat and rubbing his head in disbelief.
Perhaps he was already regretting leaving Phil Foden on the bench, three days after his brilliant England display against Iceland.
It does seem crazy the rising Three Lions playmaker does make Pep’s first 11 more often.
Whenever he does, City perform. But this, worryingly for those bleeding blue, appears lost on the gaffer.
Don’t forget Foden, having inspired City into last season’s Champions League last eight, was suddenly dropped for the tie with Lyon and the English club were thumped 3-1.
Mourinho, on the other hand, can do no wrong right now as the 64th-minute introduction of Giovani Lo Celso for
Ndombele confirmed. Just 60 seconds later the former Real Betis star burst into the box to make it 2-0 with his first touch.
No prizes for guessing who claimed his ninth league assist in the process. Is there a better creator at the moment than Harry Kane?
The goal prompted Guardiola into a double shuffle, with the 71st-minute arrival of Foden and Raheem Sterling.
It was way too late for either to have an impact here but you sense both will start against Olympiakos in midweek.
It is the Champions League, after all, and that now will be the sole focus of Guardiola this season.