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A thread on Pep Guardiola’s worst signings throughout his managerial career:
1. Claudio Bravo
After booting out Joe Hart from Manchester City upon his arrival in 2016, Pep decided to turn to Barca #1 Claudio Bravo for a fee of £16m. He had a horrific start to life in the PL and once the manager had enough of his terrible performances (1/3)
After booting out Joe Hart from Manchester City upon his arrival in 2016, Pep decided to turn to Barca #1 Claudio Bravo for a fee of £16m. He had a horrific start to life in the PL and once the manager had enough of his terrible performances (1/3)
He decided to bench him for veteran Willy Caballero for the remainder of the season. Brazilian keeper Ederson then joined the following summer for a fee in the region of £35m. Bravo was never the undisputed no.1 for the club again and now makes occasional appearances (2/3)
In domestic cup competitions and in the Community shield for the past two seasons. Not to mention the fact that when he does get called upon he also messes up big time. Beaten at his near post from a Sadio Mané header in November 2019 is a prime example of this matter.
2. Danilo
After the releasing of Sagna, Clichy and Zabeleta from their contracts in the summer of 2017 Pep went on a mad spending spree on 3 fullbacks to fit his style of play. Danilo came in for a fee of £26m. Despite this he never really nailed down a starting position (1/2)
After the releasing of Sagna, Clichy and Zabeleta from their contracts in the summer of 2017 Pep went on a mad spending spree on 3 fullbacks to fit his style of play. Danilo came in for a fee of £26m. Despite this he never really nailed down a starting position (1/2)
In the team and was often used at LB (despite being a RB) when Delph was injured. The fact that even Fabian Delph, a central midfielder was trusted at LB over Danilo speaks volumes of how much of a flop he was. He was sold to Juventus in a player + cash deal with Cancelo (2/2)
3. Mario Gotze
Mario Gotze signed for Bayern Munich from BVB in 2013, the year Pep agreed to join the Germans. After a promising 1st season with 10 goals in 27 bundesliga appearances, he found game time hard to come by due to the sheer depth of the squad. (1/2)
Mario Gotze signed for Bayern Munich from BVB in 2013, the year Pep agreed to join the Germans. After a promising 1st season with 10 goals in 27 bundesliga appearances, he found game time hard to come by due to the sheer depth of the squad. (1/2)
Add that to many injury setbacks and a metabolic problem which affected his ability to play at 100%. He eventually rejoined Dortmund in 2016 once Guardiola also left. (2/2)
4. John Stones
Signing from Everton for a fee around £47m, Stones was considered the perfect defender for Guardiolas style of play. Despite his long list of honours, even the City fans can admit he hasn’t improved defensively at all since he’s joined and is very injury prone.
Signing from Everton for a fee around £47m, Stones was considered the perfect defender for Guardiolas style of play. Despite his long list of honours, even the City fans can admit he hasn’t improved defensively at all since he’s joined and is very injury prone.
5. Dmytro Chygrnskiy
The Ukrainian CB was brought in after Peps treble winning season in 08/09 to bolster the squad. He had a dreadful season in Barcelona, only starting 12 of the 38 league games available. He returned to former club Shakthar the following season.
The Ukrainian CB was brought in after Peps treble winning season in 08/09 to bolster the squad. He had a dreadful season in Barcelona, only starting 12 of the 38 league games available. He returned to former club Shakthar the following season.
6. Nolito
The Spaniard was one of Pep’s first signings for City. He got off to a great start initially, playing the majority of the games but a poor run of form saw him lose his starting place to Leroy Sané. He didnt even start in the PL in 2017. He left for Sevilla soon after.
The Spaniard was one of Pep’s first signings for City. He got off to a great start initially, playing the majority of the games but a poor run of form saw him lose his starting place to Leroy Sané. He didnt even start in the PL in 2017. He left for Sevilla soon after.
7. Juan Bernat
The left back looked decent in his first season in Bavaria, but ever since then he was nothing short of horrendous for Bayern. He lacked defensive discipline that was needed in that position and the FCB hierarchy were quick to let him leave for PSG in 2018.
The left back looked decent in his first season in Bavaria, but ever since then he was nothing short of horrendous for Bayern. He lacked defensive discipline that was needed in that position and the FCB hierarchy were quick to let him leave for PSG in 2018.
8. Ben Mendy
Now this one may be harsh considering the Frenchman has spent most of his city career on the sidelines, but there’s nothing to show that he’s actually been good when he has played. He’s in a similar bracket to Bernat, great going forward but defensively (1/2)
Now this one may be harsh considering the Frenchman has spent most of his city career on the sidelines, but there’s nothing to show that he’s actually been good when he has played. He’s in a similar bracket to Bernat, great going forward but defensively (1/2)
Inept. In fact some of the city fans have already given up on him. Mendy has shown some glimpses of his quality but overall, I don’t think he has been worth the £54m spent on him and I’m sure there’s others that would agree with me . That’s another failed fullback for City (2/2).
9.Alexander Hleb
The Belarus international was signed for Barca in 2008 and was known to be a technical dribbler in his Arsenal days. This couldn’t be shown at the Camp Nou however, as Hleb found himself benched for most games. He even blamed Pep for this and left in July 2009
The Belarus international was signed for Barca in 2008 and was known to be a technical dribbler in his Arsenal days. This couldn’t be shown at the Camp Nou however, as Hleb found himself benched for most games. He even blamed Pep for this and left in July 2009
10. Ibrahimovic (£62)
Zlatan’s 16 goals in 29 league appearances shows that he didn’t really flop at Barca however the fact that he was shipped to Milan after 1 season highlights how this transfer failed. The swede has always talked about how Pep’s attitude and manners (1/2)
Zlatan’s 16 goals in 29 league appearances shows that he didn’t really flop at Barca however the fact that he was shipped to Milan after 1 season highlights how this transfer failed. The swede has always talked about how Pep’s attitude and manners (1/2)
towards him and how he hardly ever spoke to him during their one season together. This is the one of many examples of Guardiola falling out with players but we’ll leave that topic for another time
(2/2)
(2/2)
11. Mehdi Benatia
The Moroccan was known to be a very solid defender in his time at Roma and Bayern snapped him up in the summer of 2014 for around £25m. He only stayed for 2 seasons and played 14 and 15 games for the two seasons in the league. He eventually left (1/2)
The Moroccan was known to be a very solid defender in his time at Roma and Bayern snapped him up in the summer of 2014 for around £25m. He only stayed for 2 seasons and played 14 and 15 games for the two seasons in the league. He eventually left (1/2)
For Juventus in 2016 in order to be a nailed on starter for a club. Guardiola even favoured Defensive midfielder Javi Martinez over Benatia at Centre back. Injuries also got the better of Benatia but once again, It was money well wasted by Guardiola. (2/2)
12. Angelino
The final player in this lengthy thread, The Spanish fullback was originally part of the City academy even before Pep joined. Knowing he wouldn’t be getting a lot of game time he was sent on loan to numerous clubs such as Girona and New York City (1/4)
The final player in this lengthy thread, The Spanish fullback was originally part of the City academy even before Pep joined. Knowing he wouldn’t be getting a lot of game time he was sent on loan to numerous clubs such as Girona and New York City (1/4)
In hope for more game time. He was then permanently sold to PSV in 2018, where he spent the 18/19 season contributing to 10 goals in 34 Eridivise apperances. Guardiola then decided to trigger the buy back clause to bring him back to the ethihad due to Mendy’s (2/4)
Ongoing Injury problems and Fabian Delph’s departure to Everton. He made 6 appearances in the first half of the 19/20 season and wasn’t convincing at all, most notably getting run ragged in the defeat to Manchester United in December 2019. He has since been put on loan (3/4)
AGAIN, joining RB Leipzig in the 2020 winter window. This is the 3rd Manchester City fullback mentioned in this thread highlighting just how awful some of Peps business has been. In fact he still hasn’t got the fullbacks he wants there!
Cancelo is another FB flop (4/4)
Cancelo is another FB flop (4/4)
To conclude, what can we obtain from this thread then?
- Obviously Guardiola inherits his best players at each club
-Despite spending less money compared to other managers such as Mourinho,Ancelotti and Allegri he has made arguably the worst signings out of the four.
(1/2)
- Obviously Guardiola inherits his best players at each club
-Despite spending less money compared to other managers such as Mourinho,Ancelotti and Allegri he has made arguably the worst signings out of the four.
(1/2)
- The myth of him setting teams up for the future is a true lie. Of course Mourinho can be said to leave the dressing room in a mess but Guardiola is no better in leaving the squad in a worse state in terms of the players available
(2/2)
End of thread.
(2/2)
End of thread.
