Dietmar Hamann says Pep Guardiola is lucky to still be Manchester City boss and explains why any other manager would have been sacked.
Pep Guardiola has only been saved by the ‘Barcelona history’ in the City boardroom, says Dietmar Hamann.
Despite relative success in recent years, the ex-Barca boss has received criticism for failing to do well on the continental front.
When you consider that Pellegrini also won domestic titles before Guardiola came around, it becomes clear that City appointed him to take them a step further; Champions League triumph.
The Citizens only won the League Cup last season after they were dumped out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stages. On the domestic front, they were beaten to the Premier League title by a resolute Liverpool side.
However, it is their record in the Champions League that will be most concerning for the City hierarchy. Guardiola is yet to find a way past the quarter-finals in his four seasons at the club.
Hamann insists any other manager will have been facing the heat of a sack but Guardiola has preferential treatment because he has friends in the City board.
“If you look at their record in the Champions League, any other manager would’ve been in big bother,” Hamann talkSPORT.
“Obviously he’s got some Barcelona history in the boardroom and maybe that’s why he’s still there.”
“He didn’t reach a final with Bayern Munich or Man City – and if you look at the teams who did, they don’t have the same funds.”
“It’s simply not good enough. If you look at the teams who beat them, I just wonder what has to happen for them to make a change.”
Hamann also suggested that players can’t put up with Guardiola and his demands for so long, hinting that he is more or less done at Manchester City.
“I think a manager like Guardiola can’t be at a club for more than four or five years.
“He’s done that at Man City and if you see the players they bring in, there is no continuity and I don’t see them improving enough with the money they’ve spent.”
“I think they’ve peaked under Guardiola, I don’t see them winning the Premier League or the Champions League in the next few years.”
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