Sunday 23 April 2017 20:00, UK
Manchester City's last realistic chance of a title slipped away as they lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, meaning Pep Guardiola is almost certain to finish a season without a trophy for the first time in his managerial career.
Victory over Swansea back in late September made it ten wins in a row for Guardiola since taking over at City. It seemed the all-conquering Spaniard could do no wrong.
Fast forward to the end of April and defeat at Wembley has ended City's FA Cup hopes and Guardiola's side sit fourth in the Premier League table, nine points behind leaders Chelsea, thus effectively out of the title race. Pep will now be preparing himself for a new sensation in his managerial career - a trophyless season.
"If I have no silverware, I will not be here for a long time," Guardiola said last month. "No silverware - it will not be a good season. I knew that in August. Being a manager depends on results.
"I know how my standard is in the past about the titles and I know what is on my shoulders and I have to handle that."
How Guardiola handles it will define City's progress. He has never known such little success.
Guardiola won the league with Barcelona B in his first season in management The rookie Spanish coach took over a demoralised second-side that had just been relegated to its lowest tier in over 30 years and successfully took a squad of players who had been underperforming and returned them to their proper level, winning the league. Sergio Busquets and Thiago Alcantara played a huge part.
Then, in 2008/09, the novice instigated a dynasty. Frank Rijkaard had been a huge success at Barcelona, leading the side to two league titles and a Champions League, and bringing through players such as Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. But the team seemed to be declining in the summer of 2008: after two successive seasons without silverware, Rijkaard was sacked and Barca chiefs took a punt on Guardiola.
Three league titles in a row, along with two Champions League trophies in three seasons followed as Barca wowed audiences around the globe.
A remarkable six trophies were claimed in his first full season in management. The two that followed in 2009/10 seemed somewhat of a failure after the debut season heroics, so Guardiola dusted himself off and picked up another five the following campaign.
The in-house politics at Barcelona wears down many a coach, and Guardiola was no different, as he announced he would take a sabbatical after the 2011/12 season, only after he picked up another trophy at the end of the campaign, winning the Copa del Rey.
The break from football didn't last long, however, as he returned to inherit a Bayern Munich side that had won the treble in 2012/13.
The trophies continued to flow, even if he could not replicate Bayern's Champions League heroics, before making the move to England.
Instant success has not been forthcoming, as City fell off the pace early on in the Premier League title race, exited the Champions League at the first knockout round stage and were beaten by rivals Manchester United in the Capital One Cup, but if history tells us anything, it may not be too long before Guardiola gets back to doing what he does best.
