It's too early to say it's the end of an era at Manchester City but that day is coming

It’s too early to say it’s the end of an era at Manchester City but that day is coming

Once the final whistle blew on Manchester City’s fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions against Brighton yesterday reports emerged that Manchester City may be at the end of an era. It is far too early in the 24/25 season to come to such conclusions. But that day is coming sometime in the future. That is the nature of football. That fact wasn’t lost on Pep Guardiola when he spoke after his team’s 2-1 defeat to Brighton yesterday.

Speaking after his team’s loss Pep Guardiola told the media that his team’s era of dominance will end. The City manager said: “It is what the people want, for us to be finished. We have won a lot, it happened. The end is going to come, it is not eternal. In the next 55 years, City is not going to win every season of the Premier League, it is not going to happen.

Nothing lasts forever in football but Manchester City will be aiming to stay at the top for as long as they can.

Eras come and go in football. That is the nature of the game. Players get older, managers come and go and clubs go through rebuilding phases both on and off the pitch. That is the way of the game. Manchester City aren’t immune to this cycle. They have already started building the next era at the club with Hugo Viana set to replace outgoing director of football Txiki Begiristain at the end of this season.

But it is far too early to declare that the 24/25 season is the one where Manchester City’s era of dominance came to an end. The season is only in November. There are still plenty of twists and turns to come this season. Manchester City being 5 points off the top of the table in November isn’t a massive cause for concern. They have overcome such deficits in season’s past. There is no reason to give up just yet or that they won’t do so once again.

But what gives the impression that this may be the final push with this group of Manchester City players is their recent performances. There are reasons for City’s lethargic displays but it does look like the race with this group of senior players may be on it’s last lap. Time will reveal the answer to that.

But as Pep Guardiola said Manchester City’s era of dominance will end one day. That is the way of the game. But you can be rest assured that the challenge of staying at the top will motivate Pep Guardiola and his players to snap out of their funk after the international break. They are to proud to just stumble their way through the season and let their era of dominance just fall away.

Tags Brighton Hugo Viana Manchester City Pep Guardiola Txiki Begiristain