Club endured a torrid campaign last term but are now unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions
Pep Guardiola has revealed that Manchester City’s players approached him earlier this season determined not to repeat the disappointment of last term, when the club endured their worst campaign in nearly a decade.
City lost six out of eight games in late autumn last season to say goodbye to their title defence in worrying fashion.
The club managed to recover some form in the new year, which allowed them to still finish third and qualify for the Champions League, even if they went without a trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s debut season in 2016-17.
But the Cityzens appear to have rediscovered their form this season. They are unbeaten in nine matches across all competitions heading into Sunday’s trip to Aston Villa.
“The players came to me a month ago and said: ‘Pep, we don’t want to live the season like we lived last season,’” Guardiola said.
“They are the first. They want to perform properly. They have pride.”
City’s struggles last autumn were arguably the biggest the Spanish coach has ever faced in his illustrious career. Guardiola said his players were “empty” at times as the physical and mental demands of years of success began to take a toll.
“We were empty. Drained. For the success of the past, for the injuries, for many things,” said Guardiola.
“When you realise that life cannot always be perfect, and what you have to do to get better, we’ll be a good team. We are not consistent for 95 minutes yet, but in the bad moments we are quite stable and create some good moments.”
