Pep Guardiola has declared that Manchester City have shaken off the lethargy of last season, with a renewed energy lifting what he described as a pervasive "fog" around the club. The City manager's comments come as his team sits second in the Premier League table, riding a wave of six consecutive league victories.
The Winning Streak and Forest Triumph
The catalyst for Guardiola's reflection was another hard-fought win, this time at the City Ground against Nottingham Forest. A late goal from Rayan Cherki secured a 2-1 victory, maintaining an impressive run that now extends to eight wins in all competitions. The result keeps City firmly in the title race, just two points behind leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola pinpointed a specific moment as the turning point in City's campaign: their involvement in the Club World Cup last summer. "It was a critical moment," he stated. When pressed on what changed during that period, his answer was emphatic. "Energy, energy, energy. Me first. We lost it last season. We started to train better, to compete better."
A Personal and Collective Recharge
The City boss admitted he himself felt drained during the previous campaign, which ended without a major trophy for the first time since 2017. "It was something … something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre. We missed something," Guardiola explained. He dismissed tactical discussions as secondary, famously labelling such talk "all bullshit" without the fundamental energy required to compete.
This revival was not accidental. Guardiola undertook a significant reshuffle of his backroom staff over the off-season, bringing in fresh perspectives. The new-look team includes former Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders, ex-City defender Kolo Touré, and set-piece specialist James French. Guardiola credits lengthy discussions and a renewed collective spirit within this group for helping to change the atmosphere.
Looking Ahead with Renewed Vigour
While acknowledging that his team still has room for improvement, Guardiola is clearly buoyed by the shift in mindset. "Now it is eight victories in a row. It is not easy but we compete in the way we do. We have to improve, absolutely, but this mindset is better," he said.
Asked if he ever feared his own vigour might not return, the 54-year-old was philosophical. "No. Energy can go down but energy can go up," he replied, invoking the adage 'This too shall pass.' City's next challenge is a trip to face Sunderland on Thursday, as they aim to extend their winning momentum and close the gap at the Premier League summit.
