Toby Wilding

Thu 20 February 2025 15:00, UK

Pep Guardiola has left multiple pundits baffled following his Man City side’s Champions League elimination at the hands of Real Madrid.

The Premier League champions needed to overturn a 3-2 deficit from the first-leg at the Etihad to progress to the last 16 of the competition.

However, Man City produced a disastrous performance that allowed Real Madrid to cruise to a 3-1 win on the night, and 6-3 victory on aggregate.

That makes this the first time under Guardiola that the club have failed to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, which has led to the Spaniard being scrutinised.

Pep Guardiola blasted by Steve McManaman and Gabby Agbonlahor

The January transfer window saw Man City make several expensive signings as they look to turn around what has been a disappointing season.

Three of those, defender Abdukodir Khusanov, midfielder Nico Gonzalez and striker Omar Marmoush all started against Madrid, effectively forming part of the spine of the team.

By contrast, more established figures such as Kevin De Bruyne were left on the bench throughout the game, with Rio Ferdinand describing the Man City midfielder’s situation as “disheartening”.

With his side produced such a poor effort right from the start of the match, Steve McManaman questioned those selection decisions by Guardiola.

Speaking on commentary of the game for TNT Sports, the former Man City and Real Madrid midfielder said (8:43pm): “It’s a huge evening for the new signings isn’t it, to have all three of them on the pitch at the same time.

“When you’ve got a De Bruyne for instance on the bench, who’s stacked with experience, who’s been here before, scored here. That has surprised me actually.”

Gabby Agbonlahor meanwhile has questioned why the Spaniard was not able to get more out of such an expensively assembled squad, telling talkSPORT after the game: “I just felt that from the first minute they looked like a team that, even the way they were setup they played with no striker.

“Marmoush who scored three against Newcastle didn’t even play through the middle, it was just strange and I felt like Pep has got a lot to answer for.

“The money that he’s spent, the that team cost that was out there, it was £454million Manchester City’s starting team.”

Man City to give Pep Guardiola time to turn things around

Football Insider Verdict

Even though it is not even March yet, the only things Man City now have left to play for are the FA Cup, and a top four spot in the Premier League.

In ordinary circumstances, that would leave a manager such as Guardiola under pressure given the huge expectations there are at the club, especially after so much investment as well.

But having delivered so much success to the Etihad in the past, the Spaniard surely has enough credit in the back to come through one bad season.

Indeed, he only signed a new long-term contract with Man City earlier in the current campaign, underlining the commitment of all concerned.

It would therefore feel like a surprise if Guardiola did depart in the next few months, even if signs of improvement will be expected in that period.