Any other club and the reports would be that Pep was asked to oversee a transition period during which Zabaleta, Hart, Yaya Kompany, Silva and Aguero along with some other notables (Clichy, Kolarov) would have to be replaced. If he had merely qualified each year for the UCL and perhaps won a couple of domestic cups while rebuilding that would have been judged a success. What he has achieved has been nothing short of miraculous.I think Sterling was bought on Pep’s request knowing he would be here not long after. Same with KDB that summer as well.