Here’s where the story ends. Congratulations, Arsenal, champions of England after 22 years. Farewell then, Pep Guardiola, 10 years of dominance ending in anticlimax. Two domestic cups counts as a disappointment in Pep terms. Eli Junior Kroupi wrote his name in north London legend for ever, as the title race reached its conclusion on the south coast. Erling Haaland’s late equaliser was nowhere near enough.
Andoni Iraola has been able to keep his future movements far more secret, and he received a post-match send-off from a club grateful for three seasons of progressive, exciting football, capped off by qualifying for Europe for the first time. “What a night,” he said. “We played so well.”
A point was enough to claim that key objective as their opponents cracked under the pressure of their situation. “Things have been so clear with the club,” said Iraola. “We don’t have a lot of time together, let’s try and finish it well.” If Champions League football maybe dropped from reach after Haaland’s goal, Europa League football at least is confirmed.
“It was a tough game and we knew it would be,” said Guardiola. He was sporting in congratulating this season’s champions, and his former assistant, Mikel Arteta. “On behalf of everyone at Manchester City, we congratulate Mikel and all the staff, players and fans on winning the Premier League,” he said. “They deserve it.”
Beyond the serial collection of silverware, Guardiola’s bequest to City is healthy. A considerable rebuild has taken place since, in November 2024, a 2-1 defeat at the Vitality Stadium signalled the end of an empire, his treble winners of 2023 flagging, the scoreline flattering City. The next manager in, presumed to be Enzo Maresca, will inherit the new breed, players brought in since then such as Abdukodir Khusanov, Nico O’Reilly, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Antoine Semenyo. “Pep stay” read one placard among away fans who begged for “one more year.”
One last wild card from the Catalan grandmaster of perplexing selection decisions? Mateo Kovacic had played only 39 minutes of Premier League football all season. Alongside Kovacic, two of Guardiola’s favourite generals, Bernardo Silva, also waving goodbye to Manchester, and Rodri, for whom a return to Spain has been mooted. All three struggled with Bournemouth’s energy, Tyler Adams and Alex Scott both outstanding. “We put a lot of midfield players to try to control their transitions,” said Guardiola, explaining a strategy that did not bear fruit. “The players have given everything all season in difficult circumstances.”
The expected pattern of City possession with Bournemouth looking to speedy transitions soon came to pass but Guardiola’s team were well below their best, short on penetration. Semenyo had the ball in the net in the 13th minute, only to be ruled offside. Soon after that, Evanilson’s blushes were spared with a howling miss of an open net as the flag protected his modesty.
Haaland was struggling for touch, forced to drop deep. When Kroupi scored his brilliant strike, laid up by Adrien Truffert’s sizzling overlap, Haaland grabbed the ball in frustration, powerless to stop the rot. “Junior has learned so much, how he has evolved,” said Iraola of his teenage goalscorer. “He has found a lot of things other than the goals.”
Guardiola wore a similarly mournful expression to Haaland as the second half resumed. Deep in conversation with Pepijn Lijnders, his assistant, he rubbed his cranium in trademark, distracted fashion. Within seconds of the restart, he was bellowing commands, far more energised than in a first half where he kept a solemn vigil. It almost had the desired effect, O’Reilly carving towards a Haaland pass, only for Djordje Petrovic to save well.
The better chances were still falling Bournemouth’s way, Evanilson forcing a Donnarumma save after another warp-speed counter. Soon enough, Guardiola rolled the dice with the introduction of Rayan Cherki, Phil Foden and Savinho, youthful legs replacing Silva and Kovacic departed, Semenyo, a Bournemouth hero until January, also coming off to applause from the home fans.
Guardiola’s turning of the dial offered Bournemouth space and opportunity. Kroupi might have scored his second, after Evanilson’s flick, but blazed over. Rayan hit a post after chaos at a corner, before having a low shot saved. City rocked on their heels, close to punch drunk. When Donnarumma took his time over a goal-kick, he was barracked by his manager, Guardiola sensing his team’s fate.
City were determined to show why they were once serial champions but not enough clean chances fell their way. Despite such heavy pressure, Bournemouth preserved an unbeaten record that stretches longer than any club in Europe’s top five leagues.
Meanwhile, Guardiola went through the public agonies that have played a full part in the supremacy that has dominated English football. He does not wear success lightly The old magic was not to be found, Haaland’s stabbed, stoppage-time goal came too late. A dynasty had reached journey’s end.
