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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin

The Pep years: season by season, how Guardiola’s Manchester City evolved

Pep Guardiola at Manchester City through the years. Top row: 2016-2020. Bottom row: 2021-2026.
Pep Guardiola at Manchester City through the years. Top row: 2016-2020. Bottom row: 2021-2026. Composite: Guardian Pictures; Getty Images

2016-17: no silverware in first campaign

It was confirmed on 1 February that Pep Guardiola would be heading to east Manchester to try his hand at English football. Behind the scenes, plenty went on to create a squad suited to him but, in truth, it was a season of transition as the new head coach investigated who could fit into his system and what needed to change. It was soon apparent how influential the era-defining Kevin De Bruyne would be for Guardiola, as his class in midfield shone. City showed promise but finished third in the Premier League and were knocked out by Monaco in the Champions League last 16 as the new head coach began without a trophy.

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