Esteemed Kompany
·14 Juli 2025
Rebuilding Manchester City may bring the best out of Pep Guardiola

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Yahoo sportsEsteemed Kompany
·14 Juli 2025
To say the 24/25 season was a disappointing campaign for Manchester City is an understatement. Pep Guardiola’s side looked like a team that had run out of steam as they struggled their way through the season. In the end, Pep Guardiola and his team secured Champions League football for the 25/26 season and that was something to take from a disappointing campaign.
But what also stood out is that Manchester City are now in a rebuilding phase. New players have come in to lead City into their new era and new coaches such as Pep Lijnders have come in to bring fresh ideas to the club. But looking at Pep Guardiola the challenge of rebuilding his Manchester City team could bring out the best in Guardiola.
Manchester City will enter next season aiming to win the Premier League title. Arne Slot’s Liverpool side will enter next season as Premier League champions. There are other challengers that Pep Guardiola’s side will have to overcome. Arsenal loom large. Chelsea could be anything next season, especially after the confidence boost they’ve received from their FIFA Club World Cup triumph. Tottenham and Newcastle appear stronger after making some quality signings this summer. So the list of challengers for Manchester City to overcome is clear to see.
How Pep Guardiola and his team overcome those challenges will be of great interest. The holes in Manchester City’s game plan and Pep Guardiola’s tactics, to a degree, were on full display last season. At times, City were too easy to play through and a lack of legs in midfield did scupper City’s season. How Pep Guardiola addresses those issues could shape Manchester City’s chase to win back the title they surrendered last season. That is the challenge in front of Pep Guardiola. To address those issues and restore the fear factor of his team that was so prevalent prior to last season.
Entering a new season, Manchester City have made a host of quality signings. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have all arrived at the club. They did show some promising signs during Manchester City’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the United States. Their integration into the City squad does seemingly appear to be one challenge for Pep Guardiola. All the pieces are there for Guardiola to build another all-conquering side.
Tactically, how Manchester City plays will be of great interest. At the FIFA Club World Cup, there was more attacking intent in Manchester City’s possession play. They played quicker and more direct when in possession which does seem to be a shift that Guardiola and his staff will make for next season. Although it must be said that against Al Hilal, playing so aggressively in possession during Manchester City’s round of 16 defeat to Simone Inzaghi’s, did leave City vulnerable to quick and decisive counterattacks. So that frailty remains in Manchester City’s armour and it must be addressed.
Those are a few of the challenges that lie in front of Manchester City’s manager for next season. To take Manchester City back to the top of the Premier League those challenges and frailties in City’s play must be addressed. But in Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have the right man for the job. The challenge of rebuilding City and restoring their aura could well bring out the best in the City manager.