Letting Julian Alvarez go and Guardiola's worst mistakes at Manchester City

Julián Álvarez, the Argentine striker who has been one of the standout performers in recent years, is now a key player for Manchester City. However, it wasn't always clear that Álvarez would play such an important role at the club. In fact, there were moments when doubts about his place in Pep Guardiola’s squad loomed large. Now, as Álvarez continues to impress at the Etihad, many are reflecting on the critical decision-making moments that have shaped Guardiola’s time at City, including his handling of Álvarez's integration into the team. Letting go of players or making tactical errors are part of any manager’s career, but some of Guardiola’s decisions at Manchester City have raised questions that are still being debated.

Julián Álvarez arrived at Manchester City in January 2022 from River Plate with a lot of promise, but in his early months, his opportunities in the starting XI were limited. The highly competitive nature of the squad, with players like Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne occupying central roles, made it difficult for Álvarez to establish himself as a first-team regular. Despite his undeniable talent and adaptability, Guardiola often chose to deploy other players in his preferred attacking positions, which frustrated both fans and analysts who saw Álvarez as a valuable asset.

However, Álvarez did not allow these challenges to hinder his development. His resilience and hunger for success saw him slowly earn more playing time and carve out a more significant role for himself. His versatility, playing as both a forward and an attacking midfielder, allowed him to fit into Guardiola’s fluid tactical setup, which only increased his appeal to the coach. In the 2022-2023 season, Álvarez began to shine brighter, contributing goals and assists when the team needed them the most. Guardiola’s eventual recognition of Álvarez’s ability has paid off, with the Argentine playing an integral role in the team’s domestic and international successes.

But what if Guardiola had recognized Álvarez's potential sooner? The striker’s early struggles at City were a result of an overly cautious approach to player integration, with Guardiola often opting for other players despite Álvarez’s clear abilities. In hindsight, many argue that giving Álvarez more minutes from the beginning might have propelled his development even further, allowing City to gain more from his talents in the early stages of his career at the club.

This situation isn’t the only moment where Guardiola’s decisions have been questioned during his tenure at Manchester City. Guardiola has undoubtedly achieved remarkable success with the club, but even the most accomplished managers have their mistakes. One of the most notable errors came during the 2021 UEFA Champions League final, when Guardiola made the controversial decision to leave Fernandinho, one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, out of the starting lineup. Instead, he opted to play Ilkay Gündogan and Kevin De Bruyne in deeper roles, which ultimately disrupted the balance of the midfield and left City vulnerable to Chelsea’s counter-attacks. The 1-0 defeat to Chelsea raised questions about Guardiola’s tactical choices and whether he overthought a key match.

Another critical mistake came in the 2020-2021 season, when Guardiola failed to adequately address his defensive issues at the back. While City were dominant in attack, they often struggled defensively, particularly during big matches. Despite the evident need for a strong, commanding centre-back, Guardiola’s reluctance to sign a top-tier defender—particularly in the summer transfer window of 2020—meant that the team relied heavily on inexperienced players like Ruben Dias and John Stones, who were inconsistent at times. While Dias eventually blossomed into one of the best defenders in Europe, the season was filled with moments of defensive instability that could have been avoided with better squad planning.

Moreover, Guardiola’s early handling of players like Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva also raised eyebrows. Both wingers have proven to be crucial for City’s attacking play, but there were periods in which they were not featured regularly or were deployed in roles that didn't play to their strengths. Mahrez, in particular, faced uncertainty at times, with Guardiola sometimes opting to play him off the bench or rotate him too frequently, despite his match-winning capabilities.

Despite these mistakes, Guardiola’s overall success at Manchester City cannot be undermined. He has turned the club into a dominant force in English and European football, securing multiple Premier League titles, FA Cups, and the coveted Champions League trophy in 2023. But as his tenure progresses, it’s clear that even the best managers make mistakes—and Guardiola’s biggest challenge may be learning from these missteps to continue shaping City into an even more complete and well-rounded team in the coming seasons.

The story of Julián Álvarez is a perfect example of how patience, recognition, and trust can lead to success, even if the initial decisions weren’t ideal. Guardiola's eventual confidence in Álvarez has proven to be a crucial turning point, but there will undoubtedly be more lessons to learn as Manchester City continues to chase success on multiple fronts.