Jack Grealish Joins List of Players Whose Careers Struggled Under Pep Guardiola
Playing under Pep Guardiola is no easy task. The Manchester City boss is widely regarded as a tactical genius, but his demanding style has caught out several talented players throughout his career. Guardiola requires strict tactical discipline, and for some, adapting to his system has been a challenge.
Here’s a look at six players whose careers took a downturn after being managed by Pep Guardiola.
Yaya Touré
By the time Guardiola arrived at Manchester City, Yaya Touré was already a footballing icon. Known for his ability to switch between moments of casual disinterest and sheer brilliance, Touré struggled to fit into Guardiola’s high-intensity philosophy.
The situation worsened when his agent, Dimitri Seluk, publicly criticized Guardiola for leaving Touré out of City’s Champions League squad. Guardiola responded by benching the midfielder until an apology was issued.
While Touré still made 25 league appearances that season, his influence waned compared to his peak under Manuel Pellegrini. His free-flowing style simply didn’t align with Guardiola’s meticulous demands.
Jack Grealish
Jack Grealish became England’s most expensive player when City signed him from Aston Villa for £100m in 2021. At Villa, he thrived as the team’s creative heartbeat, often producing moments of magic.
While Grealish played a crucial role in City’s historic treble-winning campaign (2022/23), he has struggled to build on that momentum. Guardiola’s tactical system, which emphasizes structured play and risk-averse passing, has limited Grealish’s natural creativity.
At 29 years old, Grealish should be at his peak, but instead, he faces an uncertain future. A move away from Etihad Stadium might be necessary to rediscover his best form.
Zlatan Ibrahimović
One of Guardiola’s most controversial signings was Zlatan Ibrahimović at Barcelona. The club paid £40m plus Samuel Eto’o for the Swedish striker, but the partnership quickly turned sour.
After a Champions League loss to Inter Milan, Ibrahimović allegedly lashed out at Guardiola, calling him out for lacking courage. Guardiola chose to avoid confrontation, further straining their relationship.
By the following season, Ibrahimović was loaned to AC Milan, marking the end of his brief and disappointing stint at Barcelona.
Jérémy Doku
Still in the early stages of his Manchester City career, Jérémy Doku arrived as an exciting, fast-paced winger. However, familiar patterns have emerged.
Initially dazzling fans with his dribbling ability, Doku’s attacking output has diminished as Guardiola has sought to refine his game. He has recorded just one goal and one assist in the league this season and has struggled to maintain a spot in the starting lineup.
Joe Hart
Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City in 2016 marked the end of Joe Hart’s time as the club’s number one goalkeeper. The English shot-stopper, renowned for his reflex saves, was deemed unsuitable for Guardiola’s build-from-the-back approach.
Despite being a fan favorite and an integral part of City’s success, Hart was quickly replaced by Claudio Bravo. While Bravo struggled, Guardiola never reconsidered Hart, who was sent on loan to Torino before moving between various clubs.
Hart never returned to his peak form after leaving City.
Mario Götze
A Bundesliga wonderkid, Mario Götze was Guardiola’s first signing at Bayern Munich. While he initially impressed with 15 goals in his debut season, his form declined as he struggled to find a defined role in Guardiola’s system.
After scoring the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup Final, Götze found himself on the sidelines at Bayern, eventually returning to Borussia Dortmund in 2016.
He later admitted he regretted making the move to Bayern, as it stalled his career.
The Guardiola Effect
While Pep Guardiola has revolutionized football and helped many players reach their full potential, his demanding approach hasn’t worked for everyone. Players who thrive on freedom and spontaneity often struggle under his structured system.
For some, adapting to Guardiola’s philosophy leads to trophies and success. For others, it results in a career downturn and a necessary move elsewhere.
