Exclusive: January Signings Can Revive Guardiola’s Man City, says Ex-Blues Boss

Former Manchester City boss Brian Horton has no doubts the eight-time Premier League winners will rediscover their mojo – and when they do the rest of the league will need to brace themselves for an onslaught.

City are fifth in the table but languishing 12 points behind league leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side.

The Spanish boss, who has won six Premier League titles in the past seven years, has arguably never faced more scrutiny in his illustrious career with the club having failed to live up to their star billing this season.

A thumping 6-0 whitewash of promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday did plenty to renew confidence the team are on their way back.

But experienced manager Horton, who as been involved in over 2000 professional games as a boss and respected player, knows the club’s loyal fans will be hungry for more from the former Treble winners.

“He’s taken the pressure off the players as much as he can, which is what you have to do as a manager,” Horton told SportsBoom.com. 

“It’s no use blaming them, he’s put everything on himself because that’s what makes him so good."

“He’s been hurting, you can see that, and so have the players as well because of what they’ve achieved – and because they’ve been so good."

"People are not happy because they've been so good over the last few years."

“Liverpool are doing great, Chelsea are doing well, at the end of the day City are going to have a little spell where they’ll find it tough, especially with the money Chelsea have spent on recruitment, and the money Liverpool have spent."

“But they’re still going to have to try and win something [this season]."

“You look at what Pep’s achieved in the time he’s been there [at the club] – and the trophies he’s won – it’s just unbelievable."

“However, now it’s a test for him and his team, of course it’s a test."

“You’re in the public eye – and nobody is in the public eye more than Man City."

“The players won’t like that, Pep won’t like it, fans don’t like it, so they’ve got to do something about it."

“They’ll have talked about the January window and bringing new players in to help Pep. It’s all about recruitment.”

NEW SIGNINGS

Horton’s wise words came to fruition with the club having strengthened with the signings of teenage defender Reis, brought in from Palmeiras in a £29.6million deal this week, and Lens centre-back Abdukodir Khusanov has also joined on a four-and-a-half-year contract until 2029, with the fee understood to be £33.6m plus add-ons.

“Every mistake they were making was getting punished, it happens sometimes,” added Horton.

“I’ve been there myself, many, many times. But things change if you keep working hard, the team have too much quality."

“[Erling] Haaland is a magnificent player, but you need goals from elsewhere as well."

“Players need goals for confidence, but I have no doubts in my mind that City will come good again."

“Pep will ask the players to prove themselves again because the standard has dropped."

“I want all my old teams to do well, City will come back, without a doubt. They'll bounce back.”