Mourinho absence good for Pep?

Will Guardiola thrive in Premier League bear pit?

Man City's website crashing yesterday confirmed what we already knew: Pep Guardiola is box office. 

The cultured Spaniard's arrival at the Etihad was made public in a brief statement, which also revealed that City have courted Guardiola since 2012. Steady hand Manuel Pellegrini will step aside for swashbuckling Pep - the Chilean having acted as a rich man's caretaker manager while City manouevred to get their man. 

6 - Spanish coaches in the PL
Rafa Benitez
Roberto Martinez
Juande Ramos
Pepe Mel
Quique Flores
soon to be PEP GUARDIOLA #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2016

Pep Guardiola becomes the first Spaniard to manage Manchester City and the 6th to manage in the PL #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2016

Currently, the Golden Child of football management, Guardiola's arrival at City on a three-year deal adds further sheen to an English top-flight that already boasts big name foreign bosses such as Louis Van Gaal, Jurgen Klopp, Guus Hiddink (albeit in a temporary role) and Arsene Wenger. Seeing how Guardiola fares in the Premier League bear pit will be fascinating, the evidence of this season leaving the Spaniard in no doubt that even the best can flounder. 

Guardiola may, in fact, see Jose Mourinho's nightmare and subsequent dismissal at Chelsea as a blessing - as the Portuguese is the only manager to prevent the Spaniard winning the league title so far in his managerial career. 

2011/12 the only season Guardiola did not win the league title. Jose Mourinho's 100pt Madrid the only team to stop him #rivalry #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2016

Pep Guardiola has won the league title in 5 of his 6 full seasons as coach of Barca & Bayern (soon to be 6 in 7). Next up PL? #playmaker

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2016

The rest of the Premier League should perhaps be afraid. City under Pellegrini are already free-scoring; with Guardiola in situ they could and perhaps should evolve into a frightening attacking force. 

With a win percentage of over 73%, Guardiola currently boasts the best stats in the business. With 19 trophies already to his name, he is also very much on the leaderboard in terms of silverware. The time is right, therefore, for Johan Cruyff's greatest disciple to prove that total football can win where competition is fiercest. 

20 - Pep Guardiola has won 20 titles to date in his coaching career starting with the Spanish 3rd div title in 07/08 #senhorwinsalot

— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) February 1, 2016