Manchester City’s rebuild could bring the best out of Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City’s rebuild began in January. The signings of Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Omar Marmoush, Juma Bah and Nico signified the beginning of that process at the Etihad. Based on everything that has transpired this season you do feel that the challenge of rebuilding his Manchester City squad could bring out the best in Pep Guardiola.

Guardiola has already brought immeasurable success to Manchester City. Under his tutelage his team has won six Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League and every other competition in between. The challenge of reaching the top and staying there has been passed many times over by Pep Guardiola and his team. But rebuilding City and returning to the summit is a new challenge for Guardiola. It’s also a set of circumstances that could see him rise to a new level as a manager.

Rebuilding the City squad and adjusting to the apparent tactical shifts in the Premier League and Europe is a challenge that Guardiola could rise to.

But this challenge does appear to be different for Guardiola. The majority of the current Manchester City squad has come to the end of their run at the top. A host of City’s heroes will need to be replaced next summer. Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, John Stones, Ederson, Bernardo Silva and others could depart the club. There could be a sizable void in the Manchester City squad to replace. Filling that void and guiding City’s new signings to that level is a challenge that could bring out the best in Guardiola. It is no easy task but it’s one that Pep seems poised to undertake.

There is also the tactical shift that appears to have unfolded in the Premier League for Guardiola to navigate. Team’s are now playing with more pace, strength and athleticism throughout their squads. Arne Slot’s Liverpool are an example of this. Especially in midfield. As are Brighton, Bournemouth and Newcastle just to name a few. We have seen this trend come into play in the Champions League also. Real Madrid and PSG are two examples of this. The challenge for Guardiola will be: Does he back his tactics to overcome the shift or he does he add more pace, power and athleticism to his squad and tactics? That’s another challenge that awaits Pep Guardiola.

But you do sense that the challenge that lies ahead of Guardiola could bring out his best. This season has been a challenge for him and his team. We have seen Guardiola overcome these challenges before. It would be no surprise to see him do it once again as the task in of front him and his team is sizable and one that appears to be made for the Manchester City manager.

There is a challenge already ahead of Pep Guardiola to guide his team into next season’s Champions League. He and his team must overcome a poor season to achieve that goal. But the bigger the hole gets the more determined you feel Guardiola will be to guide Manchester City back to the top of the mountain.