Did Pep do enough at Man City? Henry Winter looks at his legacy

Analysis

FT Desk

By Henry Winter for the July 2026 edition of World Soccer

Pep Guardiola was a visionary and missionary during his decade in England. He did more than transform Manchester City into a winning machine. He changed the culture of English football. When he arrived in 2016, I urged the Football Association to invite him to the National Football Centre at St George's Park to talk to young coaches doing their badges, to enlighten them tactically.

That offer never materialised but, anyway, Guardiola selflessly gave of his time to many aspiring managers, whether in his or their office after games or letting them visit the Campus and watch training. Through word and deed, Guardiola inspired the English to think more deeply about the game, to build more from the back and have full-backs inverting into midfield. He won six titles, some with false nines like Phil Foden, some with real nines like Erling Haaland. He developed players for the England national side like Nico O'Reilly. He's done so much and the English owe Guardiola a debt of gratitude. It needs adding that allegations of financial breaches have yet to be clarified and City vigorously deny any wrongdoing.

Now he's stepped down at City. Almost 600 games inevitably takes a physical and mental toll on such an intense character. He needs a break. As he leaves, Guardiola deservedly enjoys plenty of plaudits for his astonishing work.

Amidst all the praise there has to be one note of perspective: is one Champions League title in ten attempts with such resources good enough? Should building on the work of predecessors like Manuel Pellegrini, who guided City to a semi-final in the season before Guardiola arrived, have produced better returns?

Guardiola was brought in by City's Abu Dhabi owners to win the Champions League. That was clear. English titles were all well and good, and especially joyous to City supporters who love the local and national bragging rights, but owners love the Champions League. It gives cache in their rarefied circles, something to talk about on the yacht or in the polo marquee.

Guardiola had a reputation from his Barcelona days for getting his hands on the coveted cup with the big ears. At Camp Nou, Guardiola had Lionel Messi, who was key to their successes in 2009 and 2011, both against Manchester United, which made him even more of a popular draw with City fans. City had nobody of Messi's stellar calibre. They had talents like David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Yaya Toure when Guardiola arrived but it was more about the team ethos, and Guardiola's tactics, than relying on a Messi type to conjure up magic.

So they set out on this journey, season after season, having hope eclipsed by Monaco in the round of 16 in 2017, then Liverpool in the quarter-finals before a devastating aggregate quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur after Sterling's late winner was ruled out for offside by VAR. Then Lyon in the truncated quarterfinal in the age of COVID and then, in 2021, to a final, to Porto to face Chelsea.

Such hope. But then came Guardiola's team-sheet. I was in the Estadio Do Dragao, staring at the line-up an hour before kick-off. Make it make sense, Pep.

No holding midfielders. No Rodri nor Fernandinho. Benched. Just "silky" Ilkay Gundogan in the centre with Foden and David Silva close by, more playmakers than destroyers, against Jorginho and N'Golo Kante.

Chelsea inevitably took control of the centre. Fernandinho came on midway through the second half but Chelsea led through Kai Havertz by then and held on. More heartache. Had Guardiola lost his golden touch?

Sometimes in Europe Guardiola could be too clever, perhaps even overthinking situations, especially against better sides. He rarely made such mistakes in the Premier League as if he felt City had enough strengths to blow opponents away, so he could be more positive. In attempting to explain away the loss, Guardiola could also point to Antonio Rudiger robustly challenging Kevin De Bruyne, who departed because of the concussion protocol. Guardiola could lament Riyad Mahrez missing with a half-volley in the last minute. But City didn't deserve to win.

They tried again the following year, and were even leading by two goals heading towards extra-time in the Bernabeu semi-final second leg before Rodrygo struck twice. Karim Benzema finished City off in extra-time. It was brutal but City lifted themselves in 2023, doing it the hard way, beating Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach the final against Internazionale in Istanbul. The treble awaited.

Here was Guardiola at his most inspired. He had John Stones alongside Rodri in midfield and the Englishman was immense. I bumped into Stones' parents shortly afterwards and they were absolutely delighted, knowing the sacrifices that John had made to reach the top. Now he was a champion of Europe. And heading off to Ibiza in a private jet.

City really should have built on that. Their new rivalry with Real Madrid saw them lose on penalties in the quarter-finals in 2024, sliced apart home and away in the knockout phase play-offs in 2025 and again in the round of 16 this year.

All this trip down memory lane is partly to highlight how deep Guardiola kept taking City into Europe's elite competition season after season. But for such an exceptional and ambitious coach he will surely be disappointed at only one Champions League in ten attempts. Carlo Ancelotti is two Champions Leagues ahead of Guardiola with five triumphs, and that must rankle such a competitive individual.

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FT Desk

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