Pep Guardiola is often regarded as a footballing mastermind, yet his intense tactics and rigorous training methods have posed challenges for various players throughout his career.
Guardiola’s emphasis on tactical discipline is unparalleled, and for some naturally gifted players, adapting to his approach has proven more difficult than anticipated.
Below are six players whose careers experienced a downturn after playing under Guardiola’s management.
Yaya Toure
Yaya Toure was part of a dwindling type of footballer when Guardiola arrived in Manchester. His ability to appear disinterested one moment and then score a stunning goal the next made him an exciting player. However, under Guardiola’s demanding system, Toure struggled. His agent publicly criticized Guardiola after Toure was left out of City’s Champions League squad, leading to Guardiola’s stern response that Toure would not play until an apology was issued. While Toure did feature in 25 league matches, his influence was significantly less than under his previous manager.
Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish is generally a beloved figure, but his transition to Manchester City has been mixed. At Aston Villa, he was the focal point of the team, showcasing his flair. His £100 million move to City in 2021 was historic, and he played a vital role in the club’s treble-winning 2022/23 season. However, since then, Grealish has struggled to maintain his form due to the constraints of Guardiola’s tactical system, which demands risk-averse play, limiting his creative freedom. At 29, a change might be necessary for him to regain his previous form.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic
The signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic by Guardiola at Barcelona was unexpected. The club not only paid £40 million for him but also exchanged Samuel Eto’o, who fit better into Guardiola’s style. The relationship between Ibrahimovic and Guardiola soured, especially after a Champions League defeat, leading to clashes and ultimately a loan to AC Milan. While he is far from a failure, staying at either Inter or making it work at Barcelona could have seen him achieve the Champions League title he longs for.
Jeremy Doku
Although it’s early in Jeremy Doku’s time at City, there are already signs of struggle. Initially seen as an energetic winger, his creativity has diminished as Guardiola has sought more from him. Doku has scored and assisted just once in the league this season and sometimes finds it hard to secure a spot in the starting lineup.
Joe Hart
Joe Hart epitomized Guardiola’s first major casualty at City. Despite being England’s top goalkeeper, Hart found himself at odds with the manager’s vision. While Hart was an exceptional shot-stopper, he was not as comfortable with the ball at his feet, leading to his exclusion from Guardiola’s early plans. Following this, Hart was loaned out after the disastrous signing of Claudio Bravo, and he struggled to regain his previous form, rotating through several clubs afterward.
Mario Gotze
Mario Gotze was Guardiola’s first signing at Bayern Munich, but he was unable to advance his career as expected. After an impressive start that included 15 goals in his debut season, he fell out of favor and struggled for playing time, culminating in being a substitute at the start of the 2015/16 season. Eventually, Gotze returned to Dortmund in July 2016 and has expressed regret over his decision to join Bayern.
