The writers of “Ted Lasso,” the hit comedy series on Apple TV+, have never worried about being constrained by reality. The soccer world they created is based on a very fantastical story: Ted Lasso, an unknown American coach, has succeeded in the chaos of the Premier League. This hilarious strategist leads a fictional team (called AFC Richmond, in London) to great success. The team’s owner, Rebecca Welton, hires Ted Lasso with the intention of making the unknown coach fail, as a way to get revenge on the team’s previous owner, her unfaithful ex-husband. However, Ted Lasso’s charm, commitment, and humor win Rebecca Welton over as well as the players on the team.

After the resounding success of the first two parts, with 22 episodes, in October 2020, "Ted Lasso" started filming the third part, premiering on March 15 this year. All the most fantastic elements can happen in the "Ted Lasso" series in a humorous, witty, sweet and even extremely romantic way, a story about an underdog (coach Ted Lasso) who is not intimidated by the forces in the Premier League... However, even on film, Manchester City cannot be defeated. Guardiola even appeared as a guest in the penultimate episode of the third part of the "Ted Lasso" series, giving a short and clear message: "Winning is less important than the players I lead are always good people".

The joy of Manchester City Club players when winning the Champions League. Photo: Getty

That said, Guardiola wanted the Champions League trophy more than any other trophy and he achieved it, after his team beat Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul (Türkiye). A somewhat defensive Manchester City finally lifted the prestigious trophy.

At the reigning Champions League champions, Guardiola not only benefits from the club’s huge budget (allowing him to sign any player he wants) but also has the highest level of support from the club’s members. Guardiola has focused on building a near-perfect team, with the recent “treble” Manchester City winning the most vivid proof. The 2023 Man City are very difficult to concede against, while being able to score from any situation, hurting opponents on the ground and in the air.

Many believe that striker Haaland is the key to Man City's success this season, but Guardiola's brilliant personnel adjustments in defense and midfield are the key to unlocking the championship trophies. Last summer, full-back Zinchenko left the team, Cancelo's arrogant attitude made Guardiola worried. When the going gets tough, smart things happen, Guardiola pushed center-back John Stones to play in midfield; center-backs Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji (the two least prominent members of the team) to play full-back (just like the starting lineup in the win over Inter Milan) to balance attack and defense. More than anything else, it is these changes that make Man City untouchable in England and the Champions League.

One of the main plots of the Ted Lasso series is that coach Ted Lasso created an epic story with AFC Richmond. Of course, that is a fictional story; Guardiola’s success is concrete, real, and real. However, both in the movie and on the field have one thing in common: In the end, Manchester City always wins.

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