5 things we've learned about Manchester City so far this season

#1 Pep Guardiola is a philosopher like no other

No one understands football the way, Guardiola does

A lot of Premier League fans (including myself) wanted to witness Pep Guardiola managing a top-flight English club to be completely convinced of his managerial prowess. And given that scenario, the arrival of the former Bayern Munich manager at Manchester City’s helm provided the fans and the doubters an opportunity to witness just that.

However, a year and a half into his time in the Premier League, Guardiola has successfully managed to convert his doubters into believers, and though it’s a bit painful to watch from a rival fans’ perspective, I, for one, must admit that it has been a pleasure to watch City play the way they have done this season. For, Guardiola’s team are a reminder of why football is called ‘the beautiful game’.

The other reason why the Premier League was supposed to be Guardiola’s toughest test yet, was because of the ‘competitiveness’ that has traditionally been synonymous with the league, especially in comparison to La Liga and the Bundesliga. However, going by what we have witnessed from Manchester City this season, this so-called ‘competitiveness’ is nothing more than a well-documented myth.

For, had there existed ‘competitiveness’ in the Premier League in its truest sense, City would not have been coasting to the title, with half the season yet to play. Given his love for football and his tactical approach to the game, Guardiola has deservedly been dubbed as the ‘tactical one’ by his Manchester City charges.

But for someone like me, who has a Masters in Philosophy, I can’t help but draw parallels between Guardiola and some ardent philosophers from yesteryear. After all, Guardiola has turned his doubters into believers with City’s performances this season and nothing could be more philosophical than that. So, the next time someone asks me who’s my favourite philosopher, I shall surely take Pep Guardiola’s name.