Pep Guardiola has the opportunity to get back to silverware winning ways at the Club World Cup in the United States after his most difficult Manchester City season yet
Pep Guardiola admitted he would have got the sack at Real Madrid or Barcelona if he mustered the same campaign he did with Manchester City at the Bernabeu or Nou Camp. The Citizens endured a disastrous Premier League defence that saw them finish 13 points behind Liverpool.
As well as dropping out of the title race early, they were knocked out of the League Cup by Tottenham in the second round, soundly beaten by Real Madrid in the Champions League play-off stages, and saw their final silverware hope go up in smoke as they were shocked in the FA Cup final by Crystal Palace.
However, the Club World Cup provides City with an opportunity for a slice of redemption, as well as the mouth-watering prospect of £93m in prize money. Looking back on the campaign, Guardiola admitted he would have been packing his bags if he was at the two La Liga giants.
Speaking to DAZN, the Catalan said: "I've always been able to turn things around when they're not going well. I haven't managed to do that this year. The situation has gotten the better of me.
"With the year we've had, if this were Spain, I wouldn't be coaching in October, November or December. If this were Barça or Madrid, they would have sacked me. But here it wasn't even a question.
"You have to have a little more patience. Look at Carlo Ancelotti. He won the Champions League and La Liga. Now he's off to coach in Brazil."
Between October and December, City lost nine times in 13 matches and looked set to drop out of the European places. Instead of giving Guardiola the sack, they extended his deal at the club until 2027, despite the stress of the role taking a toll on the legendary manager.
It proved to be the right call as Guardiola managed to steer the Citizens back into the top three. Nevertheless, the record still showed the campaign was his first without a major trophy since 2016/17, his maiden campaign at the Etihad Stadium.
City have already reacted to their frustrating campaign by signing Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rayan Cherki this summer. It's another huge transfer outlay that quickly followed their January window, where they signed Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico Gonzalez and Vitor Reis.
Meanwhile, Ancelotti left Real after finishing second in La Liga, runner-up in the Copa del Rey and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals. He took over the reins of the Brazil national team and drew 0-0 with Colombia in his first match, before beating Paraguay 1-0 in his second.
Los Blancos replaced him with Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, who will be able to call upon Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dean Huijsen in the Club World Cup. Real signed the latter from Bournemouth for £50m and paid Liverpool £10m to sign Alexander-Arnold a month ahead of schedule so he could play in the tournament.
City begin their campaign in the USA on June 18 when they face Moroccan club Wydad AC. They will then face UAE side Al Ain on June 23, before finishing their group campaign with a clash against Juventus three days later.