Manchester City lacked the right squad camaraderie last season, admits Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has admitted that his squad did not connect as a group amidst their difficult runs of form in the 2024-25 campaign.

City endured a sobering season last term and after winning four consecutive Premier League titles between 2021-24, the Blues recorded their lowest points tally (71) in the league under Guardiola en route to a disappointing third-place finish.

A 6-2 drubbing over two legs in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by Real Madrid was compounded by a gutting defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final as Manchester City finished a crossroads 2024-25 season trophyless and with major food for thought.

Hugo Viana’s arrival as director of football witnessed wholesale changes in Guardiola’s squad this summer – with key senior figures such as Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker shown the door, Ederson and Ilkay Gundogan choosing to leave and the likes of Jack Grealish (Everton) and Manuel Akanji (Inter Milan) allowed to head out on loan.

City underwent their worst run of form in nearly two decades in the fall of 2024, which effectively ruled them out of the Premier League title race and left Guardiola’s men with little to fight for amidst a difficult period for the club on the pitch.

Speaking after his side’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal on Sunday, Guardiola admitted that last term, his side lacked the camaraderie that has been at the heart of their unparalleled domination of English football over the years.

“All together. We talked a lot this period – a lot – and what we need to be happy in our job, to be, you know, coming here like feeling comfortable at home and whatever happens, there are guys around you that support you, that a bad pass and the intention is always good and being there. That is the foundation,” said Guardiola.

“All the time (it) has been like that in the teams. The foundation is the spirit, not the tactics, not these kind of things. To talk about the past, the tactics from Pep or whatever, no.

“The biggest issues is how we were connected as a team in the bad moments, in the good moments, and how we help each other. And that is a principle for everything in life, you know? And after, of course we have the duty and the obligation to do better and do that.

“But our fans especially are not stupid and when they see this spirit together, how we want to connect with them and within each other, the people forgive and forget absolutely the bad moments, everything.”

City made a worrying start to the 2025-26 season with two defeats in their opening three Premier League games against Tottenham and Brighton, leaving question marks over the Blues’ title prospects against a formidable Liverpool and an ever-stronger Arsenal this term.

However, the Blues have witnessed an uptick in form and mood on the pitch since the international break and after picking up an impressive seven points in a week’s worth of games against Manchester United, Napoli and Arsenal, City can build on their momentum when they face Huddersfield Town in the third-round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.