Pep Guardiola's 11-word message after quitting club is telling as Man City issues worsen

Under-fire Pep Guardiola's 11-word message after calling it quits at Barcelona could cause serious concern at Manchester City.

City slumped to a ninth defeat from their past 12 games after losing 2-1 at Aston Villa on Saturday. The setback places even greater pressure on Guardiola and contrasts sharply with the club's past achievements under his care, including the historic treble of 2023.

The club's feckless run of form is a stark reminder that time catches up to even the most seemingly invulnerable outfits. Barcelona once ascended to European dominion under Guardiola before he felt compelled to depart in 2012. He later cited motivational challenges, mirroring issues that could be emerging in the city.

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"I felt as if I could no longer lift the team," said Guardiola in an interview with Audi in 2014, and those 11 words may well worry City supporters. He added: "We were incredibly successful. Winning 14 trophies in only four years was the greatest period in the club's history. But gradually I found it more and more difficult to motivate myself and to motivate the team. That is when you know it is time to walk away."

Much like that iconic Barcelona team, City have witnessed a decline and are in need of a revamp. The club currently finds itself in seventh place in the Premier League, 22nd in the Champions League standings and has already been eliminated from the Carabao Cup.

Guardiola, 53, has won six Premier League titles from a possible eight since arriving on English shores in the summer of 2016. However, their recent slump