Man City might be laughing at Utd’s decline but Pep must learn from Reds

PEP GUARDIOLA was certain about Manchester City’s future when he was quizzed about it last week.

He said that everything was in place for the incredible success story under him to continue long after he was gone.

Because have no doubt about it, Guardiola could be gone at the end of this season.

Already he has stayed at the Etihad longer than people thought he might and there is nothing else to prove, nothing more to achieve.

But the belief that things will just continue when he goes could well be misplaced.

Let us not forget that it may be no small coincidence that director of football Txiki Begiristain, 60, has already stated that he is definitely on his way next summer.

This is not even taking into account what punishment may come the Manchester club’s way due to the charges of 130 financial rule breaches that are on their doorstep.

Although I have my doubts anything will ever come of that.

There are haunting parallels for City supporters over what has happened down the road when an era came to an end.

There was a similar arrogance at Old Trafford that things would just continue because, well, they were Manchester United.

Senior figures would scoff at the suggestion that with Sir Alex gone they might now do a Liverpool and take decades to regain their place on their perch.

Now, with already 11 years gone they remain further away than ever.

That belief that it would just continue saw the Red Devils take their eye off the ball.

When Sir Alex went in 2013, the United that was so dominant went with him.

Now, titles were won at City before Guardiola under Roberto Mancini in 2012 and two years later when Manuel Pellegrini was boss.

But the startling dominance that the club has achieved under this manager since 2016 sets him apart.

Have no doubt it is down to him, nobody else, just him.

His energy to continue getting the best out of players is remarkable and continues unabated.

Not only does he, with Begiristain, source and buy great players he makes them better.

His standards never drop. You just have to watch the Spaniard on the sidelines.

But that level of intensity can wear anyone down.

Even at Bayern Munich they claimed everyone was basically frazzled after his time there.

The man himself will need a rest and maybe the club and players too.

You look at this team, much like United of old, and there are certain players that simply cannot be replaced like for like.

Star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, 33, is unlikely to still be at the club beyond this season.

The incredible Kyle Walker at 34 cannot continue rampaging up and down that wing.

FUTURE QUESTIONS

Erling Haaland is only 24 but there has been no secret about his desire to one day end up at Real Madrid.

Guardiola has turned John Stones from an average centre-back into one of the best players in Europe but he is already 30.

There is still much more to come from Rodri who is 28 but how will this ACL injury impact him going forward?

In any case how can you guarantee that he and these City players will react in the same way to a new boss when 53-year-old Guardiola does go?

Down the road, when Sir Alex went it was like the tough head-master had gone and a young supply teacher was in.

Remember that, at school, when everyone just took the mick. That’s what happened at United.

Everything had been achieved, the team was coming to an end and basically nobody could be bothered anymore, everyone was knackered with it all.

The fans, meanwhile, had grown so used to success that it was basically expected.

Sir Alex was frustrated in the belief that people thought silverware just kept arriving without any work going into it.

He didn’t like how the atmosphere could dip because people just sat back and waited for the win rather than roared their team on.

Last weekend when City beat Southampton 1-0, friends of mine described the spectacle as “boring”.

Another said that the team had “lost it’s fizz”. Have they too become complacent?

City could easily lose it’s fizz without Guardiola because there is no obvious candidate to take up the reins.

There are plenty of clubs snapping at their heels as well. Liverpool and Arsenal will not go away, Chelsea for all the apparent chaos at Stamford Bridge will always be there.

Tottenham might have their day and just look at what Unai Emery is doing at Aston Villa.

As City’s less than noisy neighbours will tell you, nothing is a given.