How Man City sacrificed being the best team to become the best businessmen
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Maybe we will not be what we were but closer than now.” It had the air of an admission that the best days of this City team are behind them; perhaps Guardiola’s best at the Etihad Stadium, too, even as he has a contract committing him to the club until 2027. The Uefa coefficient, the ranking points acquired by Premier League clubs that determines if England will get a fifth Champions League spot next season, could suddenly become of more interest to City. open image in gallery Pep Guardiola’s relief at beating Leicester was palpable “It's not one month and a half,” he said. All the clubs and managers around the world live this kind of situation.” open image in gallery Guardiola had been left bereft by Man City’s dismal run open image in gallery The injury-enforced absence of Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has been keenly felt And yet the grounds for criticism is that City ignored the warnings, that their decline can be traced to negligence in decision-making.