Pep Guardiola

So much of the prematch hype for Barcelona versus Manchester City centered on the 4-0 hiding Barca had administered the Citizens only two weeks previously. If Guardiola’s new side ever aspired to reach the levels of his former protegees, that scoreline demonstrated how much work still remained.

The return match in Manchester started brightly for City. An early penalty appeal from Raheem Sterling saw the attacker booked for simulation, an extremely harsh reading of what looked an almost certain penalty.

Pep Guardiola went six matches without a victory for the first time in his career. It started to become a concern for Manchester City, as their form dipped after starting the season with ten straight wins. 

Saturday, Manchester City beat West Brom 4-0, so it appears the worst of it is over.

Seriously, who really thinks Pep Guardiola is deserving of criticism? Though confident going into their achampions League clash with Barcelona, who really expected the Citizens to win away at Camp Nou when they went down to ten men? 

Though he is seemingly constantly criticized, Guardiola has constantly put up result after result throughout his career, and expressed that to reporters:

Pep's response to criticism of his style of play: "I've won 21 trophies in 7 years. Sorry, guys."

Although Celtic is coached by ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers, no stranger to his Manchester City opponents, the Pep Guardiola led Citizens should have easily pulled out a win against the Scottish champions. However, yesterday's result showed that maybe the rise of Kevin De Bruyne and not the acquisition of Guardiola is the reason behind Manchester City’s place at the top of the Premier League table.

Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney has now figured in two shock results for the Hoops in the UEFA Champions League — their stunning 2-1 win over Barcelona in November of 2012 and their not-as-stunning-but-still impressive 3-3 draw with Manchester City on Wednesday night.

Both matches were at Celtic Park.

But the 19-year-old’s role against City was certainly different than his task against the Blaugrana in 2012.

On paper, Celtic don’t stand much of a chance against English giants Manchester City on Wednesday night in their UEFA Champions League group stage match.

But, as the old saying goes, the game won’t be played on paper, but on grass — specifically Celtic Park grass, where the Hoops have a history of pulling off the odd upset.

Coming off a 7-0 loss at Barcelona in the opening match of the group stages, the Bhoys will need a result to keep their faint hopes of advancing to the knockout round alive. However, they can draw on these momentous results for inspiration:

Potential is defined as the latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness. 

Kevin De Bruyne is the cover boy of Potential Illustrated, the long-running theoretical magazine that is littered with pages of soccer players that just didn’t make it. 

There are millions of both aimless and worthwhile reasons for why some players just never figure it out. Talent, oddly enough, usually goes hand in hand with prospective failure. 

More so than the players themselves, this summer’s headlines seemed dominated by football’s “super agents” — the brokers of the multi-million dollar deals that have come to typify the transfer market. Rather than moving in the background of such transactions, these men have flocked to the fore. Their opinions, demands and claims have been quickly picked up by media outlets, giving them a false aura of footballing expertise. 

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City Champions League group stage debut will have to wait until the weather cooperates. Man City are scheduled to play Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League group stage, but the match has been postponed because the field looks like this:

Currently at the Etihad pic.twitter.com/AqvFKUN7ah

— Ian Cheeseman (@IanCheeseman) September 13, 2016

The sensational Kevin De Bruyne and 19-year-old forward Kelechi Iheanacho put Manchester City up 2-0 by the 36th minute of Saturday’s Manchester derby. Zlatan Ibrahimovic pulled one back for United in the 42nd minute, but City went on claim all three points with a 2-1 victory in the Manchester derby.

Pep Guardiola’s Premier League record with Manchester City now reads played four, won four. It’s been a dream start for Guardiola and City, doubly so now that the Spanish manager has emerged victorious from his first visit to Old Trafford.