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Pep Guardiola gets a pass despite EPL failure

By Jocelyn Taub

LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Josep Guardiola manager of Manchester City and Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal shake hands prior to the Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 23: Josep Guardiola manager of Manchester City and Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal shake hands prior to the Emirates FA Cup Semi-Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on April 23, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan - The FA/The FA via Getty Images) /
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The media appears to give Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola a pass. Why is he held to a different standard than other Premier League managers?

It’s apparent that Pep Guardiola will likely complete his first season in England without a trophy. On the surface that is not a big deal. There are only so many trophies up for grabs each year. However, Guardiola is considered one of the best managers in football. Failure is not something he is used to.

Guardiola’s managerial career is amazing. He led Barcelona to three La Liga titles and two Champions League trophies. He then won three straight Bundesliga titles with Bayern Munich.

When he was hired by Manchester City the media hailed him as an arriving conqueror. Now he’s realizing just how competitive the Premier League is.

No disrespect intended, but managing a team full of superstars in La Liga or the Bundesliga comes with privilege. In these leagues it is almost a guarantee that two or three of the best known clubs in the world will finish above the rest of the pack every year. In other words, managing those clubs is not as difficult as other coaching jobs.

Guardiola has found that out this year.

The Premier League is Guardiola’s toughest job yet

Wenger, Mourinho and other managers are regularly criticized when they come up short. So far Guardiola has been treated to a different standard. His failures seemingly come with an asterisk….i.e. *yes Manchester City lost but it’s Pep so we’ll let it go.

Guardiola is a great manager, but the Premier League is his toughest challenge yet. The EPL is a battle with a number of sides capable of winning the title.

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Wenger is having his worst season in over 20 years in charge at Arsenal. His past accomplishments have been cast aside and the Gunners’ manager has regularly been barraged with vitriol.

Then there’s the “special one”. It’s obvious that when Mourinho is not handed a war chest  and super stars he’s not so special anymore.

A recent article in the Guardian, Pep Guardiola needs time to prove naysayers wrong at Manchester City, again gave the City manager a pass.

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He is, however, starting to be questioned. The Express recently went with this story, Pep Guardiola failing to make the grade in the Premier League with Manchester City.

Welcome to the most competitive league in Europe Pep.

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