Pep Guardiola's empire finally came crashing down – but which players were most responsible for the fall and which ones still did themselves proud?
It is one thing to get to the top, it is quite another to stay there. Manchester City remained at the summit of English football longer than any team in history, but the empire that Pep Guardiola built came crashing down in 2024-25, their fall as astonishing as it was unexpected. City looked hungry to lift a fifth-consecutive title when they won seven of their opening nine league games, but once they were beaten at Bournemouth for their first defeat in 11 months, the dominoes started to fall.
City lost six out of eight league games between November and December, effectively surrendering the title to Liverpool after their limp defeat at Anfield. They also struggled to adapt to the new Champions League format, nearly being eliminated from the league phase before being outclassed by old foes Real Madrid in the knockout play-offs, exiting the competition at their earliest stage in 12 years.
There was a serious risk of them even missing out on qualifying for next season's competition, but when push came to shove, City gritted their teeth and won seven of their final 10 games to finish third on 71 points, 20 fewer than last season and their worst showing in the Guardiola era. They did reach the FA Cup final but lost to Crystal Palace in an infuriating match that summed up their overall campaign.
GOAL rates all the players from a campaign no City fan will be keen to look back on…
Getty Images Sport28Vitor Reis – N/A
The teenage defender arrived amid the January spending spree for £30 million ($40m), but Reis' debut against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup was a baptism of fire and he was hauled off at half-time. He only started one more game against Plymouth Argyle, while his only appearance in the Premier League was an added-time cameo against Leicester City. He has a lot to learn.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport27Jahmai Simpson-Pusey – N/A
The academy defender was drafted into the first team in October as a matter of urgency due to the injury crisis, with Guardiola simply referring to him as "the young lad". It was a brutal introduction for Simpson-Pusey as City lost three of the six games he played, only winning once -and that was against Salford City.
Getty Images26Oscar Bobb – N/A
The brightest player in pre-season looked to have a big year ahead of him, but Bobb fractured his leg in training before the opening weekend, meaning he missed eight months and only earned three brief appearances as a substitute when he returned.
Getty Images25Rodri – N/A
Rodri started the season late due to his injury in the Euro 2024 final and his campaign was all-but over after just three games when he tore his ACL against Arsenal – days after warning of the danger of playing too many games. Winning the Ballon d’Or – arriving at the ceremony on crutches – was some comfort and his irreplaceable status has only grown as City stumbled so badly in his absence.
