Pep Guardiola's position is becoming extremely difficult

Manos Staramopoulos • 20 de marzo de 2026

Guardiola suffered a setback against Real Madrid, being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. His position as manager of Manchester City, however, remains undisputed.

Manchester City are eliminated from the Champions League again at the hands of Real Madrid, and the British press fears for Guardiola's future: "He faces the same fate as Sir Alex Ferguson."

Bernardo Silva, Pep Guardiola, Vinícius... Many are the names that dominate the British press. Although The Guardian highlights that Real Madrid "easily qualified for the quarterfinals," the Manchester Evening News argues that "Manchester City gave their all in attack against Real Madrid, but unfortunately for them, that included Bernardo Silva's elbow." The approach taken by the manager from Sun in the second leg was quite different from the one seen in the first. Doku was a constant threat, Rodri shone, Cherki tried his luck, and Erling Haaland (who was later substituted) scored. But the result was the same: defeat (1-2) and elimination.

Ver esta publicación en Instagram

Una publicación compartida de The Athletic | Football (@theathleticfc)

Once again, they've been eliminated in the first round of the UEFA Champions League. Once again, they've been eliminated by Real Madrid. And it's happened quite a few times now. Manchester City's visit to the Bernabéu left Pep Guardiola's men with one foot out of Europe, and Bernardo Silva, just when the Etihad Stadium could at least dream of a miracle, provided the other half they had left. "No English comeback," as CBS Sports Golazo wrote, and the Manchester side says goodbye to the top continental competition in the round of 16. "Comeback" had been one of the most used terms on UK social media in the hours leading up to the match, but the utopia turned into a disappointing reality.

This marks the fourth time Manchester City has been eliminated in five Champions League seasons by Real Madrid. Hence, The Telegraph wrote that "Vinicius Jr. finishes the job and could have ended Guardiola's last hopes in the Champions League." A headline echoing the Mirror's social media posts read: “Manchester City’s European dream turned into their annual nightmare at the hands of Real Madrid, in what could be Pep Guardiola’s last Champions League match in charge.” Indeed, many British media outlets are fueling the rumors surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future.

That’s why, immediately after the match, the manager from himself said: “Everyone wants to fire me!” Although he has a contract until 2027 and has repeatedly insisted on staying, some fear the worst. “Manchester City’s pride could be in for even more pain, with the question of Pep Guardiola’s future still unresolved. The good news is that it hurts again. The bad news is that it hurts, there are no guarantees that the pain will disappear anytime soon, and there may be more pain to come,” wrote Simon Bajkowski in the Manchester Evening News.

Some, like The Sun, even suggest that “Pep Guardiola faces the same fate as Sir Alex Ferguson.” Why the comparison with the legendary Red Devils manager? Because, as the newspaper points out, “Alex Ferguson’s last European match with Manchester United ended in defeat at the hands of Real Madrid. And while the best club in Europe eliminated Manchester City for the fourth time in five seasons, Pep Guardiola could be destined for the same frustrating end to his time in English football.”

The problem for the current City manager, who is burdened by having won “only” one UEFA Champions League title during a decade in Manchester, has a name and surname. “That’s what Real Madrid can do to you; this team is capable of scoring at will,” said former footballer Leon Osman during the BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast. And yet, according to The Times, “Real Madrid probably weren’t the best team, not even against a 10-man side, but they didn’t need to be. They already did the damage last week.”