CHANGING OF THE GUARD

Pep must start rebuild job now as his City are in ruins

- JEREMY CROSS r

FOLLOWING his side's mauling in Madrid, Pep Guardiola will have flown home with his mind on the future as well as the present.

Because events in the Bernabeu, where Manchester City were humbled and humiliated, left Guardiola in no doubt that he is now presiding over a team containing heroes of the past.

Next up is a Premier League game against leaders Liverpool on Sunday. Lose that and the gap between them and the top is a staggering 20 points - unthinkable at the start of the season.

The title is out of reach and dreams of European glory have also died.

Being outclassed by Real Madrid is nothing out of the ordinary for most sides, but City are not supposed to be like most sides.

It's the team which won the Champions League in 2023 to seal the Treble, and has claimed the last four Premier League titles.