Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has opened up on the factors behind his side’s impressive return to form, attributing their resurgence to a renewed mentality and the recovery of energy that was missing last season.
Speaking ahead of City’s New Year’s Day clash with Sunderland, Guardiola reflected on the struggles of the previous campaign in remarks reported by BBC Sport. The Spanish tactician stressed that poor form often runs deeper than tactics and cannot be brushed aside easily.
Guardiola, who has enjoyed remarkable success throughout his managerial career, emphasized that he has never publicly blamed his club or players, even during challenging periods.
“Managers are not magicians. Sometimes you need time,” Guardiola said. “Last season, something was not right in Manchester. There was a feeling around the training ground that something was missing.”
He went on to underline that setbacks are not always about individuals, but rather a collective issue that can affect the entire environment of a club.
Guardiola highlighted the club’s pre-season tour as a crucial moment that helped rebuild confidence, unity, and belief within the squad, regardless of match results.
“When we went away for pre-season, it wasn’t about winning games,” he explained. “We were playing well, training well, and competing properly. The atmosphere among the players was positive, and that mattered.”
He recalled how the relaxed environment, team dinners, and open discussions helped the players reconnect and refocus ahead of the new campaign.
“We were in a good place. Everyone was happy. We talked a lot about what we needed to do for the new season, and we wanted to keep that feeling alive,” Guardiola added.
According to the former Barcelona boss, the most noticeable change this season has been the return of intensity, hunger, and purpose—both in training sessions and competitive matches.
“Energy was the key,” Guardiola said. “We lost it last season. Now we train better and compete better.”
While acknowledging that improvement is still needed, Guardiola expressed satisfaction with the team’s current mindset and consistency.
“It doesn’t guarantee trophies, but now you can recognise the team again. We’ve won eight matches in a row, which is not easy. We are competing properly, and that mentality is much better.”
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