As of March this year I read that Chelsea are the biggest spending team this decade (since 2009), followed by Barcelona, then City then PSG then United. Only 3 times Champions League winners have come from these sides. Pep has 2 CL trophies in 10 years of management which is far superior to most managers in history including SAF who won 2 in 27 years.
Very few managers in history have moved around clubs and won the Champions League. The legend that is Jose Moaninho is one of a select few. The who Pep must win the CL thing is inane.
Nobody has ever had the resources that Pep has had at his disposal though. I'd say the sides that Pep has been in charge with over the last 10 years alone has outmatched SAF entire. 27 years at United. Hand cuffed by foreigner rule, Glazer spending etc Sir Alex worked miracles.
He's being out thought in Europe by sides who arent outmatched by the sheer spending City provide. When the money and firepower is equalised his tactics against the elite are simply letting him down.
He's the manager version of PSG. His style has been negated against the elite and he's struggling to adapt.
Ill make a prediction now, when they fall out of the CL it will be a goal fest again. They'll be chasing a three goal deficit at some stage yet again with at least 8 goals scored over the two legs.
He fecks it time and time again away in Europe but they used to take sides back to the Camp Nou and blow sides away with Messi. Now he's at City and those away displays are killing him.
Multiple clubs are reaching consecutive finals in a row, 2 in three years etc. The randomness of elite clubs falling short in CL are diminishing, the best generally do reach the semis and final. Pep really has no excuse for going out so early.