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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jamie Jackson

A rare slip by genius Guardiola is the cause of Manchester City’s slump

Pep Guardiola Manchester City United States İlkay Gündoğan FA Cup Liverpool the FA Cup John Stones Kevin De Bruyne Savinho
Manchester City players react to their Champions League elimination by Real Madrid in 2024.
Manchester City players react to their Champions League elimination by Real Madrid last April. Julián Alvarez (right) was sold and only Savinho and Ilkay Gündogan joined for the 2024-25 season, while Rodri (second left) suffered a season-ending knee ligament injury in September. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

In Manchester City having only the FA Cup to chase we see the product of the club’s failed summer recruitment, ill fortune with injury and the ravage of time to a core of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering squad.

While Julián Álvarez’s club-record £81.5m sale to Atlético Madrid in the close season bulged transfer coffers, only Savinho was recruited for £30m, alongside the return of the now 34-year-old Ilkay Gündogan for free, as Guardiola decided no major replenishment was needed.

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