Pep Guardiola leaves Man City: How club have planned for the departure of one of the Premier League's managerial greats

There are two common schools of thought about how Manchester City might go about transitioning away from a coach that has defined an unprecedented decade of success at a club that previously had very little sustained success to speak of.

The first is that it's not immediately possible. The second is that it's not possible at all. But, perhaps, there is a third thread worth pulling at.

Still, the squads he developed with such riches were always in a state of flux, their profiles and uses ever-changing and adaptive. Maybe that level of tactical intellect does leave with its guardian, but the house that Pep built is hardly going to fall down. How can it?

It's because of that constant evolutionary state, the revolving circle of ingenuity and conveyor belt of world-class talent, that the going at City has every chance of staying good. Besides, the City brains trust, now spearheaded by Hugo Viana, have been planning for this moment. It was always coming.

They have done so with Guardiola's blessing.

Those who are under the assumption City will fall away from the top spots without the Spaniard to steer the ship are likely to be left disappointed. They recorded their lowest points total under Guardiola in a trophyless campaign last term but have ended this one with an EFL and FA Cup double to take his silverware tally to a neat 20. The bounce back is already in motion, this is now a job of continuity.