Man City will be ‘stress-tested’ when Pep Guardiola leaves, Man United can overtake their rivals
Man United believe they can overtake rivals Man City in one key area when Pep Guardiola decides to leave the club.
Man City have been a dominant force in the Premier League since Guardiola‘s arrival in 2016, overtaking Man United on the pitch.
The 2024-25 campaign was only the second time in Guardiola’s tenure that he has failed to win a trophy at the club during the season.
Man United have had years of struggle since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, but go into the Manchester derby above their neighbours under Ruben Amorim.
Pep Guardiola’s exit to test Man City on and off the pitch
As per the Daily Mail [11 September], Ian Ladyman believes the eventual departure of Guardiola won’t just impact results on the pitch but also there commercial revenues.
He states that sponsors want to be associated with a winning team, which Man City have been for over a decade, though there fortunes could change without Guardiola at the helm.
“When manager Pep Guardiola goes – in the summer of 2027 at the latest – the depth of City’s structures and relevance will be stress-tested like never before. If they don’t keep winning, what happens?,” Ladyman asked.
| Games Managed | 536 |
| Games Won | 377 |
| Games Drawn | 77 |
| Games Lost | 82 |
“Inside the club they feel things are in place. The new North Stand at the Etihad will soon take capacity to over 60,000, while a 401-bed hotel will open next year and sit alongside the 23,500-capacity Co-op Live music venue, in which the club has a significant stake.
“United’s plans for a new Old Trafford continue to exist only on paper, a frustration given a season-ticket waiting list that exceeds 100,000. Only one of the Manchester stadiums will be used when the UK hosts Euro 2028 and it won’t be the red one.
“At Old Trafford, insiders believe City may have already reached the top of their commercial and sporting mountain. They, on the other hand, can see where their own next steps forward could come.”
Man City have won six Premier League titles and a Champions League under Guardiola, and are expected to challenge for trophies again this season unlike Man United who were knocked out of the League Cup by Grimsby and have no European football.
Gap unlikely to close in the short-term
Man United have gone through six permanent managers since Guardiola arrived in England, and none have been able to close the gap on their rivals.
Increasing commercial revenue may help in the transfer market and to improve facilities, but it is about management and being able to spend money wisely which will help Man United return to the top.
Amorim is yet to convince he is the man to lead Man United to glory, with the jury still out on striker Benjamin Sesko.
Thanks to their ownership Man City will not be leaving Europe’s top table and even without Guardiola at the helm, the Citizens will still be a force to be reckoned with.
The upcoming Manchester derby still has Man City as strong favourites at the Etihad despite their stuttering start to the season.