Spanish manager Pep Guardiola is going through one of the hardest times in his career. He is facing a series of unexpected losses that have affected his team, Manchester City.
This tough period comes after years of success and dominance in different competitions, making these defeats even harder to take. Since moving to England and taking charge of City, people have always seen his team at the top. With all the victories he has achieved and the great moments he has created, these losses now feel like a huge setback, undoing years of brilliance and hard work.
Pep Guardiola and his team, City, suffered a heavy defeat against Arsenal in the 24th round of the Premier League, losing 5-1. This result is one of the biggest blows in his coaching career.
Guardiola’s history is full of success, but no glory lasts forever when tough challenges appear. After dominating English and European football, City’s loss to Arsenal showed a sudden weakness in the team. No one expected City to lose so easily.
This report from cityunitedfans looks at the biggest defeats in Guardiola’s career, including Sunday’s 5-1 loss to Arsenal.

A difficult start in Germany
Guardiola had a tough start in Germany with Bayern Munich. In his first official match, his team suffered a surprising 4-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the 2013 German Super Cup.
A year later, in the 2014 Champions League semi-final, Bayern faced Real Madrid. The German team struggled under pressure, and Real Madrid won 4-0 in the second leg, securing a place in the final. This loss was one of the hardest for Guardiola during his time at Bayern.
Pep Guardiola then faced another big defeat when Wolfsburg shocked Bayern with a 4-1 win in the Bundesliga. This result was unexpected, as Bayern showed a very poor performance despite being league champions.
The next season in the Champions League, Guardiola faced another painful loss. Barcelona, managed by Luis Enrique, completely controlled the match and won 3-0. This defeat ended Bayern’s hopes of reaching the final.
Expected defeats in England
When Pep Guardiola moved to England, he faced big challenges before establishing his dominance. The defeats in his early days at Manchester City tested his patience and ability to adapt to the Premier League’s demands.
In the 2016-2017 season, City suffered a shocking 4-2 loss to Leicester City. This match became a turning point in Guardiola’s career in England.
This defeat was not just a one-time failure. It showed how strong Premier League teams had become, making it harder for Pep Guardiola to impose his style as he did in Spain and Germany. Just a few weeks later, City suffered another heavy loss, losing 4-0 to Everton. This raised doubts about whether Guardiola could succeed in his first season in English football. Many people started to question if he could handle the intensity of the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola and an unexpected fall!
Since that difficult period, Manchester City have dominated English and European football, proving their strength in every competition. The team stayed at the top for many years.
However, in the 2024-25 season, City have faced several heavy defeats, especially in big matches. These losses have been major setbacks in their campaign, shaking their confidence and raising questions about their ability to maintain their dominance. Pep Guardiola now has a huge challenge ahead as he tries to bring City back to their best.
Pep Guardiola’s biggest defeats
# | Date | Competition | Match | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 27 July 2013 | German Super Cup | Borussia Dortmund vs Bayern Munich | 4-2 |
2 | 29 April 2014 | UEFA Champions League | Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid | 0-4 |
3 | 30 January 2015 | Bundesliga | Wolfsburg vs Bayern Munich | 4-1 |
4 | 6 May 2015 | UEFA Champions League | Barcelona vs Bayern Munich | 3-0 |
5 | 10 December 2016 | Premier League | Leicester City vs Manchester City | 4-2 |
6 | 15 January 2017 | Premier League | Everton vs Manchester City | 4-0 |
7 | 27 September 2020 | Premier League | Manchester City vs Leicester City | 2-5 |
8 | 5 November 2024 | UEFA Champions League | Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City | 4-1 |
9 | 23 November 2024 | Premier League | Manchester City vs Tottenham Hotspur | 0-4 |
10 | 22 January 2025 | UEFA Champions League | Paris Saint-Germain vs Manchester City | 4-2 |
11 | 2 February 2025 | Premier League | Arsenal vs Manchester City | 5-1 |