Sunday 14 May 2017 18:04, UK
Pep Guardiola has been "a disappointment" in his first Premier League season, and will be under big pressure to deliver next term, say the Sunday Supplement panel.
Guardiola's Manchester City took a strong step towards Champions League qualification on Saturday with a 2-1 win over Leicester on Saturday, though many had expected the Spaniard to have more success this term.
They were knocked out of the Champions League by Monaco at the last-16 stage, and though admitting the club will spend big to improve this summer, the Daily Star's Jeremy Cross says he may have to win at least one trophy in 2017/18 to be considered a success.
Cross said on Sunday Supplement: "He'll spend big, he's getting linked with loads of players, but the pressure is really on him next season to win a trophy or maybe two. He hasn't won anything this season, and he has been a disappointment.
"I think they've seriously underachieved this season. They won the first 10 games and everyone thought this guy could walk on water.
"I thought they were going to run away with the league title. They've not competed in the Champions League, they've not come close to winning a domestic trophy, they were out of the title race in January.
"He's quite a stubborn guy, Guardiola, so he'll stick to his principles, which you've got to admire him for. But you've also got to be willing to change at some point, because the Premier League is different. There aren't teams that will just roll over and die.
"I think that's what shocked him the most, every game is difficult to win and I think he's taken things for granted this season."
Chelsea, crowned champions on Friday, are 15 points ahead of City going into the final two games of the season, but the Blues will again have European football to contend with next season.
Asked who will be their biggest challengers for the title next campaign, the Sunday Times' Martin Hardy said: "It has to be Manchester City. (Antonio) Conte has adapted to his squad, Guardiola has made a fairly emphatic statement in saying (the squad) will adapt to him.
"He will spend big this summer; you'll see a clear-out at City. I quite like the fact he's sticking to his ideology, they didn't get him in to play long ball football.
"It hasn't been a great first season, but I think the style of the Premier League has surprised him a great deal, that it's a bit more direct and more physical than he thought it was.
"He has a year's experience and you'd expect some big-name players to arrive and for City to be the one team who really push Chelsea next year, and they have to go beyond them."
