A moment to show what they can be may have arrived for Manchester City | OneFootball

As Manchester City won six of seven Premier League titles from the 2017/18 season until the 2023/24 season, Pep Guardiola’s side typically seized momentum in any title race they were involved in across that period. Whether that meant Pep Guardiola’s side had to win an immense amount of games in a row, or keep Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side at arm’s length, or keep pressure on Arsenal until they buckled, City did what was required to create history. It was a hallmark of the team that Pep Guardiola built that will go down as one of the greatest sides in Premier League history.

This Manchester City team is a new-look side, looking to create their own history. They have Pep Guardiola in charge, and with players such as Rodri, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland, and Phil Foden, they have players who have walked the path to Premier League title success before. The majority of this City side is learning what it takes to win leagues and titles. After Arsenal’s slip-up against Wolves at Molineux, this City side has an opportunity to ramp up the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side against Newcastle. How Pep Guardiola’s side performs against Newcastle will be of great interest, as if they perform well and pick up three points, it could be looked back upon as a massive moment in this City side’s growth.

This Manchester City side has an opportunity to lay down a marker against Newcastle.

Manchester City’s upcoming Premier League fixture against Newcastle United at the Etihad does feel like a big moment this season. Arsenal have given Pep Guardiola’s side the opportunity to close within two points of them. Mikel Arteta’s side take on Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday. If City can pick up three points against Eddie Howe’s side, it will be huge for City. Outside of the title implications, this weekend does feel like a moment in the 2025-26 season. How this City squad handles what looks to be a big moment is well worth keeping an eye on.

Previous Manchester City sides would seize on an opportunity like this one with ruthless efficiency. Once a door was left open in the title race, City’s all-conquering sides would slam it shut. They were a winning machine and it defined them as they scaled every mountain possible. This new-look City team is yet to do so. But they now have an opportunity to show that they could follow in their predecessors foot steps. Beating Newcastle will pile the pressure on Arsenal. More importantly, it will indicate that this City team has the potential to kick on. How City handle the moment at the Etihad on Saturday  night will be fascinating to watch unfold.

All City can do is focus on the task at hand and not the bigger picture.

While it feels like a big moment in this season’s title race may be at hand this weekend, all Manchester City can do is take it one match at a time. That begins against Newcastle tomorrow night. Speaking ahead of the match at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola said his team is solely focused on beating Newcastle. The City manager added that the title race hasn’t been mentioned. Speaking on the subject, Pep Guardiola said: “I didn’t speak one second about that with my players. Yesterday and the day before it’s just Newcastle, Newcastle and Newcastle.”

“I didn’t talk about the table, I didn’t talk about the position or something like that. I couldn’t care less. It’s 12 games left, it is an eternity, so many things is going to happen. That is the only truth I have.”

Pep Guardiola is right; all his team can do is focus on beating Newcastle. That is all that matters for his team. Looking at the bigger picture, this weekend does feel like a big moment in the growth of this Manchester City team. Previous City sides would seize the opportunity on offer in a ruthless manner. We are yet to see if this City side can do so. There may be an inkling of an answer to that question that arrives at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night. While this weekend will not decide this season’s title race—there will be twists and turns to come—there may be a clue to arise that suggests that this City side may have the capability of being just as ruthless as their predecessors.