With the 2024/25 Premier League now concluded, managers, players and teams are reflecting on the season just finished and planning for the new campaign. Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was one of the first to share his thoughts, and his comments aren’t encouraging for the deposed champions.
The Spaniard said he wasn’t so confident that his team would be able to bounce back in the next 12 months and challenge Liverpool – who he hailed as ‘outstanding‘ – for the title.
In his own words, City are ‘miles away’ from the reigning champions. His team won their final-day game at Fulham and finished third to secure a place in the 2025/26 Champions League, although their ticket into the competition wasn’t stamped until last Sunday.
Last year’s title winners had a disappointing season, finishing 13 points behind Liverpool and – for the first time since 2017- going without a trophy. Guardiola previously said he would never place a bet on his team winning six Premier League titles in just seven years, but he stated that he wouldn’t promise they would win the division next term.
Guardiola admits Liverpool have been well clear of Man City
The City manager emphasised that they have been able to win over 80% of matches each season since his arrival, and that there are several reasons why this campaign has gone so poorly. At the same time, he said that football and sports give everyone the chance to prove themselves and get back to the top.
Guardiola said: “The reality is that we’re miles away from Liverpool, but I believe we will be better next season. However, who knows how we will prepare for the season after the Club World Cup, as we will be exhausted. We have to meet the challenge and bring our game to the next level if we want to compete for titles.”
Jack Grealish’s future is questionable, and Kevin De Bruyne will leave a massive gap at City since he was instrumental in the club’s success over the past decade, so this appears to be the perfect time for a rebuild at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola has already stated that he wants to change the squad and bring in new players, but he doesn’t expect a massive overhaul.
He stated that his squad is still filled with great players and that they don’t require much more to compete with Liverpool. In the end, he reflected on the situation and told the press that the summer is long, and how the team will look for next season will also depend on the players and the club.