I still remember watching Sir Alex Ferguson face one of the toughest challenges of his career. It was 1995, and Manchester United had just been dethroned from the top after winning the Double the previous season. It felt like a crisis — players were ageing, others were underperforming, and the critics were loud.
Ferguson could’ve given up, clung to his stars, and blamed circumstances. Instead, he made a monumental decision: he sold key players, including Paul Ince, Mark Hughes, and Andrei Kanchelskis, and set the foundation for what would become the legendary Class of ‘92. At the time, many thought Ferguson’s job was on the line, but it’s now known as one of the defining moments of his managerial career.
This kind of boldness was also seen in Bill Shankly’s leadership at Liverpool. After a disappointing FA Cup loss in 1970, Shankly knew it was time to shake things up. He sold his most experienced players and ushered in a new era. It was an unpopular decision at the time, but one that led to decades of success.
When I think about these moments, I can’t help but ask: What can today’s Premier League managers learn from Ferguson and Shankly?
Rebuilding When It’s Hardest
Fast forward to today, and Pep Guardiola is going through his crisis. Just months after winning his fourth consecutive Premier League title, City are struggling. With no wins in their last seven games and an ageing squad, Guardiola is facing challenges he’s never encountered before in his long, successful career. And the question now is whether he can find a way out of this slump.
For a manager who has always thrived on success and precision, this is uncharted territory. It’s not just about tactics or new signings — it’s about getting into the hearts and minds of his players and finding a way to restore their confidence. A tactical genius like Guardiola needs to tap into something deeper: the psychology of leadership.
A Crisis Requires Bold Action
Here’s the thing: Ferguson and Shankly faced similar challenges. They were at the top, but they knew when it was time to make tough decisions. The great managers don’t simply wait for things to get better — they act. They don’t fear change, even when it’s uncomfortable.
In fact, they embrace it. Ferguson's decision to break up his squad was revolutionary, but it was the right move at the right time. And Shankly? He wasn’t afraid to part ways with players who had been central to his team’s success, knowing that the future required fresh blood.
Guardiola’s current struggle — with an ageing squad and a lack of spark — may be his moment to decide whether he can do at City what Ferguson and Shankly did: rebuild from within. It might mean a painful overhaul, both in personnel and mentality. Perhaps a conversation with Sir Alex Ferguson, who has lived through crises, could give Guardiola the insight he needs.
The Psychological Battle
However, perhaps the most significant lesson from Ferguson and Shankly isn’t just in their tactics or decisions; it’s in how they handled the psychological side of leadership. Ferguson, for all his tactical brilliance, understood that the hardest part of management is the human side.
It’s the moments of doubt, the loss of belief, and the weight of expectation.
And that’s where Shankly and Ferguson once stood, and where Guardiola now stands - with a squad of players, who may feel they’ve done it all, but who are now struggling to see how they can lift themselves back up.
Guardiola himself has admitted that he is “scared” his players might no longer hear his voice after eight years of delivering the same message. It’s a stark moment of vulnerability for a manager who has been so dominant. It’s this kind of challenge - the psychological toll of constant pressure - that the likes of Ferguson and Shankly knew all too well.
What’s the Next Step for Guardiola?
So, the question remains: Can Guardiola do what Ferguson and Shankly did? Can he rebuild, not just his team, but his entire approach to leadership in a moment of crisis? The answer isn’t easy. It will take boldness, resilience, and a willingness to face the uncomfortable reality of change.
But if there’s one thing Ferguson and Shankly proved, it’s that even the greatest managers face setbacks. What matters is how you respond.
As Guardiola faces this new challenge, it’s a reminder that great leadership isn’t about avoiding crisis. It’s about how you rebuild when the storm hits, how you find strength when it seems like there’s none left, and how you inspire greatness, even in the darkest moments.
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