With Pep Guardiola having bid Manchester City goodbye after a glorious decade at the club, here are 10 of the most memorable moments of his reign.
Manchester City 5-0 Crystal Palace, 6 May 2017
Guardiola’s first season ended without silverware and with questions over whether his methods could translate fully to English football. City finished third, exited the Champions League in the last 16 and lacked the full control associated with Guardiola teams and that would later become a hallmark of his best City sides. But this victory over Crystal Palace was significant because it was the first time City won by at least five goals under him. It offered an early glimpse of what would follow over the next decade. He would go on to win by a similar scoreline three games later away at Watford on the final day of the season. The Hornets in particular would regularly suffer trouncing by similar scorelines over the years in Pep’s peak years at City, but it was here at the Etihad against Palace that it all started.
Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City, 10 December 2017
This was the match that established City as clear favourites for his first league title. The season had started with talk of a new rivalry between Guardiola and Jose Mourinho, memories of their great clashes in Spain with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively still memorable. Both teams soon raced to the top of the table that autumn. Guardiola’s side arrived at Old Trafford on a run of 13 consecutive league wins while Jose Mourinho’s United remained unbeaten at home. But City completely outclassed United in this game, showing a remarkable gulf between the teams placed first and second. David Silva gave City the lead although Marcus Rashford equalised shortly before half-time. Nicolas Otamendi then restored City’s advantage before Ederson’s late saves secured the win for City. Victory moved Guardiola’s side 11 points clear at the top and extended their winning run to 14 matches, equalling the Premier League record. They did not relinquish first place again.
Liverpool 4-3 Manchester City, 14 January 2018
City travelled to Anfield unbeaten in the league and with growing discussion around the possibility of an undefeated season. Liverpool ended those hopes spectacularly. Jurgen Klopp’s side exposed City repeatedly in transition and scored three goals in nine second-half minutes through Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. With six minutes to go it was 4-1 but there would be yet more craziness, City scored two goals through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan to leave Liverpool hanging on by a thread, City denied a mind-boggling equaliser when Sergio Aguero trailed offside in stoppage time. More than ending his side’s unbeaten run, the defeat also highlighted a weakness in Guardiola’s side against elite pressing teams and it is one he could work towards addressing as time went on in his City reign.
Southampton 0-1 Manchester City, 13 May 2018
The title had already been secured but City entered the final day pursuing another landmark: becoming the first Premier League side to reach 100 points. For most of the afternoon the target appeared likely to slip away, City drifting towards an uncharacteristic goalless draw no thanks to resolute defending from the Saints. But Gabriel Jesus scored in stoppage time and the marginal victory completed arguably the greatest domestic campaign English football had seen to that point: 100 points, 106 goals and a 19-point lead over second-placed United.
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool, 3 January 2019
This match was another vintage clash between Guardiola and Klopp and it also effectively kept the title race alive. Liverpool arrived at the Etihad seven points clear and unbeaten. Defeat would likely have ended City’s hopes of retaining the title but Guardiola’s side instead delivered one of the defining performances of the two sides’ rivalry. Aguero cancelled out Roberto Firmino’s opener before Leroy Sane scored the winner after the break. John Stones made an incredible goal-line clearance to prevent Salah’s effort crossing the line when there were only millimetres of the ball still left on the line. City went on to retain the title by one point.
Manchester City 1-0 Leicester City, 6 May 2019
All you need is to read Vincent Kompany’s long-range strike and suddenly you remember this game. City were on the brink of their second title and dominated possession against Leicester but struggled to break through. The title race against Liverpool was in its final stage and dropped points would have lost the title. There was simply no way for City to score, no matter how hard they tried. Then Kompany picked the ball up in the moment of inspiration and fired home to secure victory. The goal maintained City’s momentum and helped carry them towards another league title.
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City, 3 October 2021
The Guardiola-Klopp rivalry produced several landmark games but this draw at Anfield was one of the greatest. The quality of the football was greater than few things ever witnessed on English soil, both sides assured, relentless and dripping with talent. Guardiola’s previous visits to Anfield had often yielded pain and it seemed it would end that way yet again. City controlled much of the first half before Liverpool stuck first through Sadio Mane and then Mohamed Salah scored that solo goal to make it 2-0. But this time City showed they could match Liverpool on their home ground, bouncing back with Phil Foden and Kevin De Bruyne on target. Guardiola’s side left with a point that proved important in another title race ultimately decided in City’s favour.
Manchester City 3-2 Aston Villa, 22 May 2022
City required victory on the final day to guarantee the title but found themselves 2-0 down midway through the second half. Liverpool were leading against Wolves and the title appeared to be slipping away. Instead Guardiola’s side produced one of the most dramatic recoveries of the Premier League era. Rodri reduced the deficit before Gundogan scored twice in five minutes, securing a comeback that landed a fourth league title in five seasons under Guardiola.
Manchester City 4-0 Real Madrid, 17 May 2023
This Champions League semi-final second-leg game against Real Madrid was arguably City’s best performance that season under Guardiola. A year earlier Madrid had eliminated City in dramatic fashion. This time Guardiola’s side dominated from start to finish and had European royalty under their domineering boots. It proved that they had extended their imperious reign beyond English shores to Europe, Silva scoring twice as City overwhelmed Madrid through pressing, control and positional play. The victory removed one of the major obstacles that had repeatedly denied Guardiola in Europe and paved the way to Istanbul.
Manchester City 1-0 Inter, 10 June 2023
And of course, Istanbul, where City’s first Champions League title finally arrived. The final was more difficult than expected, Inter creating problems and City never truly establishing the control they were known for. Guardiola’s high-pressing side were daunted by the quality of Andre Onana’s passing, which kept defying their high press to allow Inter move the ball quickly up the pitch to attack. Rodri’s second-half shot settled the contest and completed a historic treble, making City only the second English club after Manchester United in 1999 to achieve the feat. It also ended Guardiola’s 12-year wait for another Champions League title as a manager and completed the final major objective of his time at City.
