Pep Guardiola has hinted at how Man City's midfield could look for the next decade

Nothing great lasts forever. That counts double in football.

The great are toppled. The best fall. Empires crumble. The elite of the elite have come afoul of the vicious cycle that will inevitably curse clubs to endure relative struggles after euphoric success. Even Manchester United, after what seemed like an unshakable grip on the English game, eventually relinquished their hold and spent a decade being laughed at—some much-need catharsis for every other club in the country.

Those with the safety net of untold wealth have not been safe. Chelsea have been up and down more than the Tower of Terror and are suffering a particularly scary period despite spending a small country's GDP on players in six months. Liverpool were being hailed as one of the best teams ever less than a year ago and are now down in the dumps again. The question is, will the cycle ever come for Manchester City?

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Since 2008, it has been nothing but an upwards trajectory for the Blues with only a couple of minor setbacks on the way. They have won four of the last five Premier League titles and don't look to be going anywhere soon.

As well as the nearly unlimited resources which should ensure they never leave the top table for the rest of time - the verdict from the independent panel following the Premier League's charges depending - they have always managed to couple the money with extreme competence. While every other 'top six' side have seemingly made dumb decision after dumb decision over the last decade, City have rarely, if ever, put a foot wrong when it comes to the team on the pitch.

Recruitment, youth development and, most importantly of all, designing