“Tactics is bullshit without energy – we need a good environment,” City’s manager says
Pep Guardiola says Manchester City have regained the energy they lost last season and that a “fog” has been lifted around the Etihad.
City are firmly back in the Premier League title race after six straight league wins and eight victories in all competitions, the latest a 2-1 success away at Nottingham Forest sealed by a late Rayan Cherki strike. The run has moved Guardiola’s side to second, two points behind Arsenal, with Aston Villa also in close contention.
Guardiola believes the turning point came during the Club World Cup in the United States. City were knocked out in the last 16 by Al-Hilal but the manager said the experience proved decisive.
“Energy, energy, energy,” Guardiola said. “Me first. We lost it last season. We started to train better, to compete better. After that we can talk about three at the back, four at the back, wingers or full-backs – that is all bullshit. We needed to get energy back, and then you have a good environment.”
City ended last season without a major trophy for the first time since Guardiola’s debut campaign in 2016-17, bringing a halt to a run that included four consecutive league titles. The Spaniard admitted he felt personally drained during that period and struggled to put his finger on what was missing.
“It was something … something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre,” he said. “We missed something. It is not switching on or off. Managers are not magicians. Sometimes you need time. Winning helps to advance this process.”
Guardiola said the atmosphere during City’s Club World Cup stay in Florida was a moment of clarity, despite their early exit. Training standards improved and there were more conversations among each other that helped reset expectations.
“Everyone was happy,” Guardiola said. “We made a lot of dinners, a lot of talks, [about] what we have to do next season. We wanted to extend it, just to live that. After talking with Pep and James, Manel, Hugo, Txiki, we turned around and said something changed. Something [you can feel].”
Over the summer, Guardiola reshaped his backroom team, adding Pep Lijnders, James French and Kolo Toure to his coaching staff. He believes the fresh voices, alongside new players, have helped restore belief and motivation.
“New players, I want to help them,” Guardiola said. “When you’ve got the same players it is, ‘ah, tired’. But new players you think, ‘how is this guy?’ The energy comes from there.”
City’s form suggests the shift has worked, although Guardiola remains cautious about reading too much into a strong run midway through the season.
“It doesn’t mean you are going to win,” he said. “But you are able to recognise the team. 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.”
City return to action on Thursday away to Sunderland, knowing the title race remains finely balanced. But Guardiola believes his team must cling to their renewed sense of purpose.
“Energy can go down but energy can go up,” City’s manager said. “Never in our lives is it the same. You have to realise what you missed, and come back.”
