12.2 C
Manchester
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Other SportsGuardiola: Manchester City struggles are a good thing

Guardiola: Manchester City struggles are a good thing

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City’s recent wobble may prove beneficial in helping the whole club refocus following last season’s success.

City landed the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup treble in 2022/23, sweeping all before them, but have suffered an uncharacteristic dip in form over the past month, failing to win in four Premier League games.

Read our other sports news stories here:
McIlroy not bitter over Rahm defection to LIV
Laura Woods criticises Joey Barton over female commentator comments
Maguire named Premier League Player of the Month

Guardiola’s men slipped to fourth in the table following Wednesday night’s 1-0 defeat at Aston Villa but he says it is not necessarily a bad thing for their ambitions this term.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s trip to Luton, he said: “For everyone at the club, it’s a good thing that we are living, it is necessary.

“For a long time, we have looked at how good we are. Maybe we need this to say ‘guys, this is business, it’s terrible, we are not able to win one game.

“For myself first, maybe I need that challenge to prove I am a good manager to help the players overcome this challenge. And for the players it’s a good challenge, for them to say ‘my God, Aston Villa were much better than us’.

“And even the club, the whole organisation, we can be out of the Champions League next season. We need to work hard after what has happened over the last few years.

“As soon as we realise it, we will come out of it quicker. Otherwise nothing will change. We are in December, we have a lot of games to play, a lot of exciting things ahead of us, we need to embrace it.

“With that in mind say ‘okay, let’s work’. The club needs it. We need a shake, bad results can help that.”

City jet off to Saudi Arabia for the Club World Cup before Christmas but Guardiola accepts his side cannot currently be labelled the world’s best.

He added: “At the moment we are not the best team in the world because we are not getting results. We were [the best] in Europe [after winning the Champions League last season] and in the world we will see in two to three weeks. But that’s not important. What’s important is to come back to playing at our level that we had two weeks ago.

“Against Villa, they were better than us and they deserved the victory for the way they played. We were not far away and we were at a good level. A good result [at Luton] will help us and the next two games are so important before we go to Saudi Arabia.”

City have not won in the Premier League since November 4 but Guardiola feels the quality of the opposition they have faced over that period, with games against Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Villa, should be taken into account.

He added: “When you are winning games you are the best team in the world. When you don’t win it’s a crisis. It’s important to face the reality. We are not used to not winning four games in a row but we have played top teams. They were tight games. In some we played well, in others not so. It is what it is.

“It’s not the first time we’ve been in this position. Every season we have a spell where we don’t get results, it happens.

“Do you know how much we struggled to do the treble last season with all the injuries we had? That’s why we give credit for the treble. People around the corner say it was easy.

“The team we have now, right before the Wolves game, was one game away from having the best start ever at this club. At the international break, we were top of the league – not two seasons ago. Then we faced Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Villa, top teams, it can happen.”

Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher
Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.
Latest

Choosing reliable vehicle financing for families in Manchester

When it comes to securing vehicle financing for your family, reliability is essential. Families need to consider the long-term impact of their financial decisions,...

Appy Pie Unveils Snappy 2.5: A Faster, Smarter Website Builder Designed Around User Feedback

Appy Pie has introduced Snappy 2.5, the latest upgrade to its website builder, developed in direct response to long-standing user feedback. This release focuses...

FREESMO Leads the Way with Smarter Smoke-Free Choices Through Trusted Questionnaire

As the smoke-free sector continues to grow and diversify, FREESMO is highlighting the importance of its Smoke-Free Questionnaire – a tried and tested tool...

Growing green: Smart strategies for sustainable business growth

In today’s competitive landscape, growth isn’t just about scaling quickly, it’s about doing so responsibly. Customers, investors, and even employees are increasingly drawn to businesses...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

Zen Internet strengthens business division with appointment of Jon Nowell

Rochdale based Zen Internet, the UK’s longest standing independent telecommunications and network connectivity provider, has appointed Jon Nowell as managing director of its Business...

FREESMO Leads the Way with Smarter Smoke-Free Choices Through Trusted Questionnaire

As the smoke-free sector continues to grow and diversify, FREESMO is highlighting the importance of its Smoke-Free Questionnaire – a tried and tested tool...

Local dealership’s reputation for excellence drives remarkable customer loyalty in competitive automotive market

In Manchester's bustling automotive sector, building genuine customer trust has become the ultimate differentiator. While many dealerships compete on price alone, one local Mercedes...

£1 million health optimisation hub opens near Manchester Airport this month with exclusive treatments from £45

A new £1m high-tech clinic is set to open at Manchester Green on September 18, bringing treatments more often associated with London’s private wellness...

More News

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025: Report, result, highlights as Norris savours ‘stressful’ win

Lando Norris praised McLaren's "amazing car" after overcoming unpredictable conditions to beat reigning champion Max Verstappen and win the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025...

India vs Australia: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

India vs Australia: The State of Play India will be targeting a third consecutive appearance in the final when they face Australia in the first...

New Zealand vs India: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand vs India: The State of Play Two teams in excellent form meet on Sunday when New Zealand and India collide in their final...