Pep Guardiola has described the 2024–25 season as the most difficult of his 16-year managerial career as Manchester City’s pursuit of major silverware faltered.
The City boss, who has enjoyed immense success with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and in previous seasons at City, admitted that a combination of poor form, injuries and underperformance from key players made this campaign uniquely challenging.
Having won four consecutive Premier League titles, City saw their league momentum unravel from late October, eventually falling out of serious title contention. They also exited the UEFA Champions League in the knockout play-offs at the hands of Real Madrid, a rare early departure under Guardiola’s leadership.
Despite this, City remain in the hunt for the FA Cup and a top-five league finish, while also preparing for a shot at the Club World Cup. But Guardiola insists the overall season has fallen short of the high standards he and the club have set.
“This has been the most difficult season without a doubt,” the 54-year-old said. “It’s been much more emotionally demanding. When you’re not winning, everything becomes harder – preparation, mood, motivation. It’s different from the seasons where you’re playing for titles until the end.”
Injuries, notably to midfield anchor Rodri, have disrupted City’s rhythm, while others have struggled to find consistency. Guardiola acknowledged he too had not been at his best.
“We had too many injuries. We didn’t have the energy,” he said. “I tried but I couldn’t find the right way to help the players feel confident and win games. I accept my responsibility.”
Guardiola also conceded that City’s usual high performance levels had dipped.
“Our standards have dropped. But even with all the difficulties, it could have been worse. I wasn’t able to find the right solutions but we didn’t give up. We’re still in the race for Champions League qualification and that remains a huge objective alongside the FA Cup.”
City face relegated Southampton on Saturday as they look to end the season on a positive note.
