MANCHESTER, England — Pep Guardiola believes that Manchester City is “close” to returning to their peak performance as they prepare to host Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
City, who have been in contention for the title, had a strong start with nine unbeaten matches across all competitions but faced a setback with a loss to Aston Villa last weekend.
Since wrapping up their fourth consecutive title in 2024, City has found it challenging to maintain consistency. However, Guardiola is optimistic that his squad is on the brink of finding their rhythm again.
“We’re still not at our best, but we’re getting closer,” Guardiola stated during a press conference on Friday.
“I can feel the right energy when I see the team in the dressing room, at training, and how we execute our plans. We will be a tough side for opponents to contend with, and that’s what I aim for.
“Whether we will be in contention for the title, I’m not certain, but since the World Cup held in the States, I’ve felt very optimistic about our prospects this season.”
Bournemouth arrives on Sunday sitting second in the Premier League table, just four points behind leaders Arsenal.
Guardiola is heartened by the imminent return of Rodri, who has been sidelined for the past four matches due to a hamstring injury.
“I think he’ll be ready to contribute; I’m not sure if he’ll start, but hopefully he can join us,” Guardiola remarked.
“His absence has been felt, and we know how vital he is to our success.”
Bournemouth has enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, suffering only one defeat in their first nine encounters.
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Newly promoted Sunderland is also currently in the top four, and Guardiola insists he isn’t surprised by the performances of some of the league’s underdogs.
“During my time in Munich and at Barcelona, I often heard that in England, any team could defeat another, and I’ve always felt that way,” noted Guardiola.
“Perhaps Liverpool and ourselves changed that narrative because of our consistency, regularly achieving 90 points or more each season.”
“However, I believe the Premier League has always featured teams that can outperform one another. This competitive nature is exceptional.
“Similar to the NBA, there hasn’t been a dominant team in recent years; there’s always a chance for different teams to shine, and that’s great for the spectators and the excitement of the Premier League.”