Tucked away from the celebrations inside a stadium named after a king stood a throng of Manchester City dignitaries late last Friday night, a few of whom might be deserving of crowns when this era finally ends.
Among them were chief executive Ferran Soriano and sporting director Txiki Begiristain, nonchalantly leaning outside the dressing room congratulating the squad for their latest exploits out in Saudi Arabia, becoming world champions to go with the rest of the titles. Inside, the players sang Queen as Pep Guardiola made sure they all took pictures alongside the year’s five trophies.
Guardiola’s brother and representative, Pere, was around with City Football Group director Joan Patsy, a key figure in the impending £20million signing of Argentine teenage sensation Claudio Echeverri from River Plate. Patsy also proved instrumental in the capture of Julian Alvarez, who scored twice in that final and once from the spot on what could be a huge night at Goodison Park.
Everybody together, everybody content, everybody briefly forgetting the domestic difficulties.
Even Guardiola, in a drenched fitted suit, who declared that ‘the job was done’ after City completed the full set. He’d had the same feeling on the evening of Istanbul but checked himself, using the Super Cup and last week’s Club World Cup as motivation.
Pep Guardiola realises replicating Man City’s trophy-laden 12 months is an impossibility
The Man City boss showed the fire is still burning on the touchline despite the club’s success
So now what? Even Guardiola, with his ridiculously high expectations and standards, realises that replicating the last 12 months represents an impossibility.
But in talking about ‘going to the book shop’ and writing another story, in bristling at what he perceives as overly negative responses to their recent form, he is showing that fire still burns. Somehow still burning.
That much was obvious when Kyle Walker headed aimlessly towards halfway. And then as Bernardo Silva hoofed clear under heavy Everton pressure.
Guardiola fidgeted, furiously complained at his stars for bowing to home pressure.
City, who had been superb for almost half an hour, were unsettled by the hosts after meeting an inspired Jordan Pickford. City unsettle themselves by not killing teams off without mercy. Guardiola knows this.
‘Kevin (De Bruyne) is so important for us, like Erling (Haaland),’ Guardiola said. ‘I would say these two types of players don’t help you to play good, but these two guys help you to win games.’
Phil Foden and Julian Alvarez scored as Man City returned to winning ways in the league
And Guardiola hit nail square on head. City have not been particularly bad during their malaise, actually playing adequately if not exceptionally, yet miss the brutal totality of the two players who stand above all.
If their season is to continue flickering, then patterns need to change quickly. In the absence of the main protagonists, others need to step up in a way they simply haven’t for the past few weeks in the Premier League.
Phil Foden pinging one in from 25 yards was a strong start to that on Wednesday night. They need more of that if the narrative is to change beyond one result.
This new story Guardiola speaks of will undoubtedly be shorter than the last.
Short ones can still captivate though and his quill usually pens best sellers.
