Even the sun couldn’t bring itself to go down on Pep Guardiola‘s decade of dominance in English football. There it was, still shining on the man of the moment as he left the Etihad for the final time as manager.
Bringing a warm glow to someone who has burned brighter than all the rest since he first arrived in Manchester back in 2016. Guardiola had just spent the afternoon being serenaded from start to finish. By supporters who know their footballing lives will never be quite the same again. And how could they be?
There will never be another manager like him. One who took the club to unprecedented levels of success. Who scaled the kind of heights mere mortals can’t even dream about.
To Guardiola, this was just another game. One he wanted to win. One during which he still kicked and headed every ball. But to those in the stands, the result was irrelevant.
What counted was paying homage to this messiah, who will forever belong to the blue half of Manchester. It was difficult not to feel sorry for the club. After all, how do you do justice to someone like Guardiola?
It felt a bit like having to buy a present for someone who has everything. Twenty trophies in 10 years. Six league titles, including a historic four on the spin. A Treble, and more doubles than one of Oliver Reed’s bar bills.
A huge mural of Guardiola was unfurled before kick off, with the following words written large. ‘Game Changer, History Maker, City Forever’. There were ones dedicated to John Stones and Bernardo Silva as well. Two of the club’s most iconic footballers, who had been such a huge part of the team’s success in recent times.
Silva was in tears as he led his team out of the tunnel one last time, while he and Stones both got standing ovations and guards of honour from both teams when substituted during the second half. But the truth was, this occasion was all about one man. Not three.
View 2 ImagesOllie Watkins proved to be Aston Villa’s match winner
Guardiola took the standing ovation, the first of several. He waved to all corners of the ground, including the stand that will now be named after him. He blew kisses to his loved ones, ahead of his 593rd and last game, one which saw him surpass Les McDowall as the club’s longest serving manager.
Even Guardiola’s timing in terms of this felt perfect. He got a warm hug and boxed gift from Unai Emery. Tommy Fleetwood was in the posh seats, even if City owner Sheikh Mansour wasn’t. And few left theirs at the final whistle.
Waiting for Guardiola to re-appear in front of his adoring public, to soak up the love and appreciation of people who regard him as God. He strode through his own guard of honour, made up of his squad, staff and some former players. He looked emotional. The end of his era had arrived.
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One jam packed with trophies and memories that will remain inked onto the history of City – and the game on these shores he revolutionised. For the record, Antoine Semenyo put City ahead, but a brace from Ollie Watkins secured a comeback win for Villa. But nothing was going to come close to spoiling the farewell, to someone who leaves behind a legacy that will never be bettered.
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