Pep Guardiola’s first Man City starting XI - where are they now?

We take a look at the 11 players who started in Pep Guardiola’s first match as Manchester City manager in 2016.

On 13 August 2016, Pep Guardiola took charge of his first game as Manchester City manager.

Given the Catalan’s work at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, expectation was high among supporters, but even the most ambitious fan could not have foreseen the success Guardiola was about to bring to the Etihad. Four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four Carabao Cup victories, not to mention a first Champions League final.

Then there’s the records: highest points tally in a single season, longest winning Premier League streak, most wins in a season, most goals in a season - to name just some from the highlight reel. Few could also have expected Guardiola to remain in Manchester for such an extended period and the City boss is currently enjoying his seventh year in English football, while he recently signed an extension that runs until 2025.

But it all began with that late winner against the Black Cats in 2016, a match that did provide a flavour of what was to come: 16 shots, 77 % possession and completing over three times as many passes as the opposition. Despite that, it was a scrappy 2-1 win for City that evening, with ex-Manchester United defender Paddy McNair inadvertently turning the ball into his own goal in the 87th minute.

Only two players remain at City from that debut clash for Guardiola, who has since constructed an all-conquering side in East Manchester. But who started for the Blues on that first game, and where are they now?

Then there’s the records: highest points tally in a single season, longest winning Premier League streak, most wins in a season, most goals in a season - to name just some from the highlight reel. Few could also have expected Guardiola to remain in Manchester for such an extended period and the City boss is currently enjoying his seventh year in English football, while he recently signed an extension that runs until 2025.