Manchester City have a clear goal heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
After experiencing a very tough season last time around, one in which the Manchester club finished trophyless, Pep Guardiola’s main aim will be to regain the Premier League title from Liverpool, with steps already taken to make that happen.
Man City have added Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Marcus Bettinelli to their squad, and the plan is not to stop there as Guardiola also wants a right-back before the Premier League gets back underway in August.
The Manchester club looked better throughout the FIFA Club World Cup before being knocked out by Al-Hilal this week, and that has resulted in former Premier League manager Alan Pardew labelling City as the favourites for the title.
Pep Guardiola ahead of Manchester City v Wydad AC at the FIFA Club World Cup.
Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Pep Guardiola needs to show Man City squad highlights of last season
Last time around, Man City went from winning four Premier League titles in a row to needing to qualify for the Champions League on the final day of the season, which is not what is expected from the Premier League giants.
With the Manchester club looking to bounce back throughout the 25/26 campaign, Pardew has stated that he would show the current Man City squad highlights of the 24/25 season ahead of the new Premier League term to motivate them not to let it happen again.
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“If I was Pep, I’d be showing them highlights from last year,” the former manager said on talkSPORT. “Showing that this is what you served up by the way guys, as a little bit of like, really kick in this year, and I think that’s why, and I’m not the only one, a lot of people are making them favourites again.”
Many football fans would disagree with Pardew on Man City being the favourites for the Premier League, given the transfer business Liverpool have done so far, as Arne Slot’s men will be hard to stop again.
Although Pardew’s suggestion will help, motivation will not be enough to see Man City win another Premier League title, as Guardiola’s team still has some big problems, such as Bernardo Silva’s frustrations with how his team defend transitions.
Alan Pardew’s abysmal record against Man City
Pardew’s managerial career in England has seen him manage some of the nation’s biggest clubs, including Newcastle, West Ham, Crystal Palace, and West Brom, with the English coach falling just short of lifting silverware on several occasions.
During his time with these teams, one club Pardew did not like playing against was Man City, as the 63-year-old had an awful record against the Manchester club.
The English manager coached against City on 21 occasions, winning just four, drawing one, and losing the remaining 16.
No club has beaten Pardew teams more than Man City, so it is understandable why he holds them in such high regard ahead of the new Premier League season.