Would Manchester City survive without Pep Guardiola?

Since his arrival in June 2016 following a lengthy period of courtship, Pep Guardiola has established a clear dynasty at Manchester City. His work has been to not only win, but be beautiful when winning.

To elevate the brand of the City Football Group and lay the foundations for a period of success. To hone a clear set of sporting values and integrity from which champions can be forged.

That Guardiola has achieved this in such style, at odds with the pundits and harbouring the rancour of the English Media, whilst overhauling a squad of ageing professionals backed only by the riches of the owner who just happens to be Middle Eastern Royalty is part of the joy.

There are lots of other football managers but no one commands trust and respect like Guardiola. No other manager could have achieved what he has to date.

Guardiola brings with him an intensity of vision and application. Its a dedicated ferociousness which leaves him single minded and totally focused. This is a man with little time for side issues, or flights of fancy. Everything counts and everything is part of the vision.

Guardiola behind the scenes

The Amazon Prime TV Series “All or Nothing” provided a peculiar opportunity for us to be present during those moments when Guardiola is most exposed; when he is leading and organising his team; when he cajoles and bullies; when he dams with faint praise; when he points out the lack of effort made in a training session by a superstar player in a team some 15 points clear of their nearest rival.

Motivating and engaging elite high paid athletes must be a difficult task. How to get that extra few percent out of them at all times which can make the difference between winning and losing. How to convince the players to listen to the instruction and not be disheartened by the roar of the crowd. How to motivate Raheem Sterling to recover from missing an open goal against Burnley away so he immediately scores in his next game.

Guardiola is a man with an eye on the detail. He reviews everything and almost obsessively and compulsively double checks and checks again. Sometimes he is so focused on the detail, so obsessed in the moment he seems not to care about the immediate. He is lost in his discovery.

Sometimes as in the Amazon documentary, he uses language blurs. He is talking so fast. He is so animated. His words conflate. He moulds words and turns into a blur of anger and action. How the team follow him at these times I am not sure.

Other times his attention to detail and language is so focused he seems almost compulsive in his behaviour. His rearranging of the phones in front of him on the desk at a press conference. Ordered by size and model. And then lined up exactly so they are neat and tidy – unconscious behaviour as he talks and concentrates on the answers he gives.

Other elements of compulsive behaviours abound. The meticulous neat and tidy appearance. The personal grooming. This is a man so in control, so bound by ritual and routine. These rituals often give comfort to people who suffer from extremes of compulsion. They serve to give people a level of automation in behaviour so that other matters can be considered. They provide a platform for other thought to happen and develop. They are reassuring and comforting in their unique routines.

If you notice, the physical aspects of compulsive behaviour displayed by Guardiola are when he appears to be most stressed. Those times in press conferences where he is troubled because he does not have all the answers.

There are times when he appears stubborn and challenging to others. He does not let a point a go. Sometimes with the press he hears a word they say and repeats it back. Focused on the word. Almost distracted. He answers the word they have used.

More from Man City Square

But the compulsive Guardiola behaviour triggered at times of stress gives an insight to the level of personal intensity he is maintaining at any time. Under pressure, under the surface he is flailing and his legs are kicking to stay afloat.

Can he keep up his motivation?

Obvious to us all is the level of intensity. The lines on his face and thinness of his legs. At times he seems to be fading away from us before our eyes. The obsession and 100% application of the effort can’t be maintained forever. We all know Guardiola will wear himself out. He won’t implode like Mourinho by punching a ball boy, poking an opponent in the eye, or insulting the only woman on his staff. But he will run out of juice. He will realise he has nothing left to give. This is a moment we dread at Manchester City.

At Barcelona it was that realisation that led him to take a sabbatical from the game before taking the job at Bayern Munich. Guardiola comes to us without having had a break and will have worked 8 years at this intensity by the time his contract at City expires at the end of 2020/21.

And there is the dilemma. We have the best coach in the world for this season and another two, making it the longest period he will have served at any club. Do we think he will make it that far? It is late August of season three of Guardiola as I write this and I genuinely fear Guardiola will become so exhausted he does not see out his contract.

The prospect of after Guardiola doesn’t bear thinking about. What truly can come after the best football we have ever seen? We all know the answer to this so must do all we can to keep him.

Guardiola needs nurturing

We may have the best medical staff in the country but they need to take care of Guardiola. Our main man. I hope Khaldoon and Txiki Bergistain offer Guardiola some respite and some options. I think we are a modern club and are not afraid to take unusual leaps into the unknown. I think we all know and want Guardiola to be our leader for as long as possible. To give him the chance to truly create a dynasty in his own shape.

To that end I would implore City to offer Guardiola a sabbatical. Tell him he can go on leave for a year, or even two – tell him he can be paid but convince him to return when he is ready to continue his project. Allow one of his capable assistants to steer the ship in his absence. Let’s nurture Guardiola and in doing so really model our club into a modern era. Ask Guardiola for two years then give him up to two years off before returning for three.

We can protect Guardiola and need to act so as to keep him. Reassure him “we’ve got Guardiola” and we intend to do everything possible to keep him.

Let’s not really consider after Guardiola for at least another decade.