Pep Guardiola is set to make Manchester City history on Sunday as he becomes only the second manager in the club’s history to lead the team in 500 competitive matches, Soccernet.football reports.
The Premier League clash against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium marks this remarkable milestone, placing Guardiola alongside Les McDowall in the annals of City’s history.
In his eight-and-a-half years at the helm, Guardiola has revolutionized the club, establishing a dynasty of dominance.
Under his stewardship, City have claimed 18 major trophies, including six Premier League titles in the last seven seasons, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in their history. The League Cup, FA Cup, and Community Shield successes further underline his incredible impact.
However, Man City have struggled in recent weeks, with the Premier League champions winning only one of their last 13 games in all competitions.
Guardiola acknowledged the challenges his squad currently faces, with eight senior players sidelined due to illness and injury.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s match, he reflected on the team’s spirit and determination:
“I want it, everybody wants it,” Guardiola said. “I don’t want to disappoint my people and the fans and everyone who loves this club but when you see the results, I have nothing to say.
“It’s about how you perform. [Against Everton], in many moments, we were really good knowing the quality of the opponent.
“We are a little bit down, but we didn’t expect it so much. The main reason is having seven or eight important players injured. I see the team, their spirit, and how focused they are in training.”
City’s 1-1 Boxing Day draw against Everton left fans yearning for a stronger finish to the year.
As Guardiola leads his team into a historic match, City supporters will hope for a victory that both honours the manager’s legacy and signals a return to winning ways.