Manchester City’s 2024-25 season has been a turbulent ride, and Pep Guardiola, the mastermind behind their recent dominance, now stands at a crossroads following a trio of significant blows to his backroom staff. The departure of assistant coaches Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez, whose contracts expired, along with Carlos Vicens’s move to become head coach at Braga, left a gaping hole in City’s coaching setup just before the Club World Cup. This shake-up, coupled with a shock 4-3 extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal in the tournament’s last-16 stage, has thrust Guardiola into the spotlight as he grapples with two pivotal decisions: the future of interim coach Kolo Toure with the first team and whether to bolster his coaching staff further to navigate the challenges of the upcoming Premier League campaign.
Guardiola acted swiftly to fill the void, bringing in Pep Lijnders and James French as permanent additions to his staff, while promoting Kolo Toure from his role with the Under-18s to assist at the Club World Cup. The new arrivals made an immediate impact. French earned praise from players for enhancing City’s offensive set-pieces, while Guardiola was effusive about Lijnders’s influence. “He’s opened my eyes in many and a few things in a short time,” Guardiola said, reflecting on how his assistants have consistently enriched his approach. “It’s happened for many years from all the assistant managers I’ve had; always I try to drink from their knowledge!” He lauded the fresh perspectives, adding, “That is what it’s all about… every time he adds something, I say, ‘Wow! This could be good! We could make this step, we can be better’.” Despite the positive vibes, the Al-Hilal loss exposed familiar defensive frailties, raising questions about the coaching setup’s cohesion.
Toure’s role is now a key decision point. Initially brought in as a temporary fix for the Club World Cup, the former defender’s contributions impressed, with Guardiola noting the “really good” training sessions and strong team spirit led by captain Bernardo Silva. “The vibe was really good, I cannot thank Manchester City enough and especially the players for training and how they have been playing,” Guardiola said post-tournament, despite the disappointment. Keeping Toure with the senior squad could disrupt the academy, where he’s been integral, but City’s first-team priorities may demand his expertise, especially given the defensive lapses that saw Al-Hilal capitalize on transitions. “The margins are minimal, they ran into transitions a bit, but we created a lot,” Guardiola noted, lamenting missed chances and goalkeeper Bono’s “incredible saves.”
The second decision looms larger: does Guardiola need more coaching reinforcements? The loss of three key staff members doesn’t necessitate a like-for-like replacement, but with City’s season teetering—compounded by injuries to stars like Rodri, who suffered a fresh setback in the Al-Hilal match—Guardiola may seek additional expertise. “We have to see Rodri, he complained about his situation, but we need time to come back,” Guardiola said, highlighting the ongoing injury crisis that has plagued City’s campaign. The club’s sporting director, Hugo Viana, faces his own challenges, deciding whether to pursue a new right-back or trim the squad, but the coaching dynamic could be just as critical. “Getting that formula right will boost all of the playing squad,” one observer noted, emphasizing the ripple effect of Guardiola’s choices.
City’s Club World Cup exit, a rare low in Guardiola’s glittering tenure, underscored the stakes. The 4-3 defeat, despite City’s dominance in chances created, marked Al-Hilal’s biggest-ever victory and left City trophyless in a competition they were favored to dominate. “We would have loved to have continued, only here once every four years,” Guardiola said, turning his focus to the Premier League. “Now it is time to rest and rest our minds for the new season.” With new signings like Tijjani Reijnders showing promise, Guardiola’s optimism persists, but his decisions on Toure and potential new coaches will shape City’s ability to rebound from this setback and reclaim their perch atop English football. As the Premier League looms, all eyes are on Guardiola to weave his magic once more, balancing innovation with stability in a season that demands nothing less than perfection.
Leave a Reply