During the Halloween party held for Manchester City players and their families just two days before their match against Bournemouth last Sunday, the venue featured a cinema-style entrance. Inside, the walls were adorned with “Wanted” and “Missing” posters showcasing Pep Guardiola’s squad. Guests, including defender Rúben Dias dressed as Jack Sparrow, were welcomed by a vintage theater setting complete with red velvet curtains and a marquee sign.
The sign read, “Now screening: I Know What You Did Last Season,” a humorous nod to a famous slasher film.
This season has been challenging for City, plagued by injuries and a sharp decline in form, turning the 2024-25 campaign into a tough ordeal for a team that previously claimed four consecutive Premier League titles. However, players and staff are beginning to find humor in their situation, even as they strive to demonstrate their full recovery from last season’s trials.
So far, Guardiola has been reticent about discussing what his team might achieve this season, and City’s performances haven’t painted a clear picture either. They’ve scored victories against Manchester United and Napoli, and earned a respectable draw against Arsenal, but also faced losses to Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Aston Villa.
Despite the inconsistent results, City currently sit second in the league ahead of Liverpool‘s upcoming visit to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday. That match will be significant in revealing whether City are back in the title race or still navigating the aftermath of a rebuild.
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To regain their footing, Guardiola has taken a different approach. He made the uncommon decision to cancel training the day before their Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund, opting instead to give his players a day off. Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against Augsburg had been shifted to last Friday to provide them with four days of rest before their visit to the Etihad, while City had to face Bournemouth just days prior.
Guardiola aims to prevent a repeat of the injury woes that plagued last season. He expressed hope that this adjustment—with special approval from UEFA—would convey “a message to the scheduling officials.” While support in this area might be limited, the additional rest proved beneficial, resulting in a 4-1 victory over Dortmund that elevated City to fourth in the Champions League standings.
Off the pitch, significant changes have occurred as well. The squad has lost over 1,500 games of experience in the last year due to departures, including Éderson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan, and Kevin De Bruyne. Defender Josko Gvardiol noted this shift in experience has been particularly striking.
“You can feel it,” he shared with ESPN. “Many of the guys who were once here are no longer with us, but that’s football. One day you’re here, the next day you might be elsewhere, and we have to accept it. … Changes are a norm [in any squad], and every member of our team is thoroughly professional and takes their roles seriously.”
In light of these changes, Guardiola has taken a firmer grip on the dressing room dynamics. Over the summer, he selectively appointed his captaincy, moving away from the previous system where players voted for their leaders. Recognizing that a lack of cohesion contributed to last season’s disappointments, he made the decision to choose his leaders directly for the first time in his managerial career.
Organizing events like the Halloween party may seem trivial, but for Guardiola, it’s a crucial aspect of restoring the camaraderie that was lost last season. He is acutely aware of the team spirit within the squad and prioritizes elements such as body language during training and matches.
The exit of many influential personalities has allowed other players to rise to the occasion. The newly appointed leadership group under Guardiola includes Bernardo Silva, along with support from Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland.
While selecting Bernardo, Dias, and Rodri seemed logical due to their experience, including Haaland in this leadership circle was unexpected. However, Guardiola later remarked that it could be “the best decision I’ve made.” On the pitch, Haaland has showcased his leadership by netting 18 goals and demonstrating better defensive efforts. Off the pitch, he has embraced his new role—recently offering to handle the pre-match media duties for the upcoming Dortmund match, stepping in for John Stones.
In addition to addressing comparisons with Lionel Messi and the prospect of breaking Alan Shearer’s Premier League scoring record, the Norwegian expressed how last season’s struggles affected him.
“Losing games is never pleasant,” he acknowledged. “Losing the cup final, finishing third in the Premier League, and exiting early in the Champions League is far from ideal for this club. We all understand the need to improve, be more stable, and step up when it matters.”
Last season, City frequently faltered in critical moments. Alongside the FA Cup final loss to Crystal Palace, they experienced defeats to Liverpool on both occasions, with both matches concluding 2-0 as Arne Slot’s squad advanced towards the title.
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Could Man City be on their way back into the title race?
Gab Marcotti analyzes Phil Foden’s performance during City’s 4-1 win against Borussia Dortmund, as Guardiola’s team appears to be regaining its form.
Amid these transitions at City, one vital element remains constant. Guardiola quelled speculation about his future by extending his contract until the summer of 2027. Now in his tenth season at the helm, there have been queries regarding whether he maintains the same vigor and determination from his arrival in 2016.
Gvardiol expressed unwavering confidence in Guardiola.
“I believe he is the same as he was in his first season,” asserted the Croatia international. “He still seeks to push us, to innovate in training or focus on new aspects. This enthusiasm and energy from the manager inspire us, and when he is ready to put in the effort, we are motivated to fight as well.”
The last clash between City and Liverpool was in February, during a challenging period that had already seen City suffer defeats to Real Madrid and a significant 5-1 loss against Arsenal. Guardiola’s tone was tinged with caution ahead of that encounter.
Fast forward nearly nine months, and the atmosphere is strikingly different. City have only dropped one of their last 13 matches. “Honestly, I’m thrilled and eager to prepare for Sunday’s match,” Guardiola shared following the victory over Dortmund. “I can’t wait to face Liverpool again on Sunday, and we’ll see how it unfolds.”
This next match presents another opportunity for Guardiola and his squad to demonstrate that the difficulties of the previous season are firmly behind them.