It’s that time again, and Pep Guardiola will look to nullify the disappointment caused during an admittedly poor season in contrast to the standards of Manchester City.
The eight-time Premier League champions closed the doors of last season with no silverware — a first for the Catalan during his time in the northwest, as he and his players fight for a much-needed renewal of success.
It seems there isn’t long left for Guardiola at City after sources were told he would be departing after this spell as manager, while also telling GQ Spain that his future is “more than decided” just weeks ago.
However, that doesn't mean the 54-year-old isn’t striving for his most successful season as City's manager after nine years at the club.
He’ll have to work extra hard in overriding the historic Treble that he led his side to in 2023, but with Guardiola, anything seems to be possible.
2024/25 season review
Written by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere
Man City claimed the local bragging rights and, in turn, became an all-conquering club over the last decade. Yet, all champions are human, and the previous season was a humbling reminder of that fact.
The Citizens came into the 2024/25 campaign as the four-time winners of the Premier League, a feat no one has achieved in the history of the English top tier. A clean sweep of four victories put them at the top of the table in September, and their latest defence of the title was ticking along nicely enough.
Then came a 2-2 draw with Arsenal. A last-gasp leveller could not spare the squad from the pain of losing Rodri for the whole season with an ACL injury. The impact of the incident was not immediate, but once the spiral started, the fallout was dramatic: two wins in their last ten league outings of 2024.
Rodri injured his ACL in September last year (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
Signings in the winter window helped to stabilise the squad a little, and an unbeaten run during the final ten fixtures of the season sealed a third spot on the final matchday. Scars were still present.
Real Madrid dumped them out of the Champions League, but with much less effort than the year before. Having exited the Carabao Cup in October, City could only fight for the FA Cup crown.
They reached the final for the third year in a row. But unlike the derby defeat of 2024, a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace was not a complete shock. The unthinkable was now a reality for Pep and his players: for the first time since 2017, his debut campaign at the club, the Citizens had won no major honours.
Summer transfer activity
Written by Ptolemy Horner
It’s been a much-needed busy summer transfer window for Manchester City following a disappointing 2024/25 campaign.
First of all, the departure of Kevin De Bruyne has left a sizable hole in many Blues fans. The 34-year-old joined fellow blue side Napoli after a simply unforgettable ten years in Manchester.
It was also time to say goodbye to Kyle Walker as he left to join the claret and blue of Burnley.
Despite a difficult last couple of years for the right-back, he left City after etching himself in Premier League history.
A third legend also left the club following the end of his contract this summer. Although he only stepped foot twice on the pitch for City, Scott Carson leaves with a place in many City fans’ hearts.
City were determined to get the majority of their business done before the ClubWorld Cup, and they did just that.
Reijnders and Cherki are two of Guardiola's many summer signings (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)
Tijjani Reijnders joined from AC Milan to tighten up the midfield. The Dutchman joins after not only appearing in the 2024/25 Serie A team of the season, but also winning midfielder of the year.
To liven up both the attacking midfield and wings for City, Rayan Cherki joined from Lyon. After climbing through the ranks of Lyon, the Frenchman joins after a standout 24/25 season.
Last year, he achieved the most assists in both the Europa League (8) and Ligue 1 (11), whilst also earning a place in the UNFP Team of the Year and winning the inaugural Ligue 1 Dribbler of the Year. The skilful maestro has already had City fans off their seats in the**Club World Cup,** with him being expected to offer much more in the upcoming season.
Another Rayan has also joined the ranks, this time in the form of Aït-Nouri. The left-back has been known to Premier League fans for a few years, but he really made a name for himself in the last 12 months as he notched five goals and assisted seven times in all competitions for Wolves.
Manchester City have also welcomed back a familiar face as James Trafford takes the number one shirt. The 22-year-old rejoins after two years away from Manchester and following a standout season for Burnley. The goalkeeper joins after conceding just 16 goals in 46 games, the least in the history of the Football League.
Marcus Bettinelli has also joined from Chelsea. The goalkeeper made just one appearance for the London Club, with his duties expected to be similar to those of Carson.
City also quietly signed wonderkid Sverre Nypan, too. The Norwegian, however, is expected to be loaned out before the end of the window.
Written by Dan Madgin
Heading into a campaign where Pep Guardiola will be desperate to recapture the Premier League from Liverpool, he will require top form from an experienced man in his frontline.
Phil Foden has had as many ups as downs since his introduction to the first team over seven campaigns ago, enjoying extensive periods in and out of the team.
His 2023/24 campaign is the standard Guardiola will demand from Foden next season if Man City wants to challenge for the title against the unequivocally powerful front line that the current Champions possess.
A few short-term injuries last season halted his ability to reach similar heights, and his Catalan head coach preferred Omar Marmoush in his central role at the back end of last season instead of Foden.
Foden looked reinvigorated in the Club World Cup despite a poor 2024/25 season (Photo by Julio Aguilar - FIFA/Getty Images)
With the added painful departure of Kevin De Bruyne in the summer, the England midfielder will need to add essential goal contributions, including service to striker Erling Haaland, particularly if Foden has a desire to play for the Three Lions at the World Cup next summer.
At 25 years old, Foden can no longer be considered a youngster with bags of potential; instead, he must prove his ability consistently. He will face competition from ex-Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who is technically outstanding next season and must be a consistent goal contributor, but the doubters will ask the question: Is he up for it?
Strongest XI
Written by Jack Coburn
Having offloaded some and bought others, Guardiola has switched up his squad from last season considerably — and probably for the better.
The additions made by the Catalan are heavily supported by attacking threat and potential, which City fans saw a light glimpse of during the Club World Cup and pre-season friendly versus Palermo.
It is expected that Guardiola won’t budge tactically, but, unlike last season, his attack has the potential to be unplayable with the likes of Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Ryana Cherki and Phil Foden all fit to start the new season in style.
Starting XI: Trafford; Lewis, Stones, Dias, Rayan Ait-Nouri; Gonzalez, Reijnders; Cherki, Foden, Marmoush; Haaland
Haaland scored the opener against Palermo in pre-season (Photo by Image Photo Agency/Getty Images)
Tactics and Systems
Written by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere
The biggest problem for Pep is likely to be handling transitions. Since he first deployed four central defenders at the back on the way to the treble, City have never looked as secure against the counter.
The return of Rodri creates further uncertainty in this phase of play. His distribution, tall frame, and use of tactical fouls meant that even if he was never the most mobile figure, he has turned into an excellent screen to step in for Fernandinho and continue the cycle of dominance for the Citizens.
It is not certain what state he will be in when he fully returns from his ACL injury. The Spaniard had to cut short his substitute appearance in the Round of 16 of the Club World Cup against Al-Hilal, as the Saudi side showed a clean pair of heels against City in transition with the threat of Malcom.
City have made two major acquisitions in the centre of the park this summer, but neither is a natural solution to the issue. Rayan Cherki is a creative force whose impact will be most in the final third as a lock picker, and despite his height, Tijjani Reijnders is not a disciplined defensive presence either.
Khusanov was subbed off early against Chelsea after a humbling debut last season (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
The defence complicates matters. Last season showed Rico Lewis, a favourite of Pep as an inverted fullback, is a little too frail to be a backstop if the team does not exercise the control that has been customary in the last seven years. Abdukodir Khusanov, an arrival in the winter window, has the raw speed to be a bailout from the right of defence, but he seemed to fall out of favour with the boss.
Pep is not a man to compromise on his principles, but he has to rewire this group to stop the bleeding.
Expectation in cup competitions and likelihood for silverware
Written by Matthew Shotter
The expectation for Pep Guardiola’s side will be the same one they have had every year since the Catalan natives' arrival: win everything and win it better than you did last time.
However, the 2024/25 Premier League season was the first time during Guardiola's tenure at City – and perhaps his entire career - where he and his team were truly questioned, and for periods, were quite poor.
Even if they ultimately finished third and reached the FA Cup final, it was still viewed as an unmitigated disaster.
But, if anything, that will fuel this City team and their head coach to rectify the wrongs of the last campaign, and they will certainly aim to topple their long-time rivals Liverpool and reclaim the Premier League trophy that they believe is theirs.
From a domestic cup perspective, City have, at times, won them at a canter. Particularly, the EFL Cup, which City won four times in a row between 2018 and 2021.
City won four Carabao Cups in a row from 2018 and 2021 (Photo by Alex Livesey - Danehouse/Getty Images)
In fact, they won so many of them that it is highly likely that large sections of the City fanbase would be unable to recount the winning of these trophies. But with the Citizens failing to secure a trophy last season, an early League Cup win would be the perfect remedy.
As far as City’s continental expectations, they will be hoping to claim their second UEFA Champions League. They were eliminated by Real Madrid in the inaugural knockout phase playoff in the new-look iteration of the competition, and will be keen to ensure they are not knocked out so early this season.