Guardiola Reveals What Sparked Manchester City’s Return To Form

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s revival this season has been fuelled by a shift in mindset and a recovery of the energy he felt was absent last season.

Speaking ahead of City’s New Year’s Day visit to Sunderland, Guardiola reflected on the previous campaign in comments reported by BBC Sport, insisting that managers cannot simply wave away deeper issues when things are not right.

The City boss, who has enjoyed sustained success throughout his career, stressed that he has never turned on his own club publicly, even during difficult periods.

“Managers are not magicians. Sometimes you need time. Last season, something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre. We missed something,” he said.

“I could, I have big numbers in my career as a manager. How many [times]? Never, ever. It’s not about you or you or you, it was something… something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre. We missed something.”

Guardiola pointed to the club’s pre-season trip as a moment that helped restore belief and togetherness within the squad, regardless of results on the pitch.

The Spanish coach explains: “When we went out to Al Hilal, it wasn’t the fact that we didn’t win but that we were so good there. It was then the holidays, so I said: ‘OK, go on holiday’, but I was annoyed because we were good there, good with the guys training, good with the competition.

“The place we were in, Boca Raton in front of the beach, everyone was happy. We made a lot of dinners, a lot of talks, [about] what we have to do next season. What we have to do. We wanted to extend it, just to live that.”

According to Guardiola, the biggest difference this season has been the return of intensity and purpose on the training ground and during matches.

“Energy, energy, energy. We lost it last season. We started to train better, compete better,” the former FC Barcelona manager said.

“It doesn’t mean you are going to win but that you can recognise the team. Now it is eight victories in a row. It is not easy but we compete in a way we do. We have to improve, absolutely, but this mindset is better.”