We’re a different team to last Villa trip, says Pep | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola says City have evolved and improved drastically from the team who travelled to Aston Villa in the Premier League last season.

On our previous visit to Villa Park, back in December 2024, the Blues suffered a 2-1 defeat where Phil Foden’s strike in second-half stoppage time represented little more than a consolation.

That was our third defeat in succession at the time which dealt a significant blow to our hopes of winning an unprecedented fifth top-flight title in a row.

But with City looking to extend our unbeaten streak to 10 straight games when we face Unai Emery’s side on Sunday at 14:00 (UK), Guardiola believes we have learned from the difficulties endured in 2024/25.

“I saw the game [from last season] yesterday I thought ‘wow no energy or anything’ and we didn’t deserve [anything],” he declared in his pre-match press conference.

“In the end it was 2-1, Phil scored but we didn't deserve at all.

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“Always want my team to deserve what we want to achieve. Sometimes it doesn’t happen, sometimes you play better and you don’t win, but that’s football.

“But I don't like when you lose in that way, when its well deserved, I like it. Look at reality in the face and know what we need to do better. But I’m pretty sure we’ll do better Sunday.

“We are another team. Even [to] the first year nine years ago, eight years ago, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.

“The team right now who can win or can lose but still we are a team who can do good things.”

Following City’s away defeat to Aston Villa last season, we went onto to collect a fantastic 13 Premier League wins before the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

That strong record helped us to finish third in the table by the time the curtain fell on the term which meant we secured Champions League football for the 15th consecutive term.

WATCH: Watch: City's last 10 away goals at Aston Villa

And Guardiola was pleased by his side’s determination to finish last season strongly.

He added: “In that moment [when we last visited Aston Villa] we were in a mess. In the moment. It was not at Villa Park which was the moment, before it was many games which is one of the lowest points.

“But for sure last season, I said many times, in the last 5, 10, 15 games in the Premier League and in the last 20 we were the best team in terms of points.

“It was really good otherwise we wouldn't finish third. But in October to January we couldn't win one game. Not in the Champions League not in the Premier League and that didn’t allow us to go in that positions and when we were there remember.”