Guardiola reveals why City have to keep learning and evolving

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Manchester City F.C.

·3 marzo 2026

Guardiola reveals why City have to keep learning and evolving

Pep Guardiola says it's the constant challenge of trying to evolve that keeps his job so interesting.

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The City boss has enjoyed remarkable success during his first nine seasons at the Club but maintains his hunger for more.

His side are involved in an exciting title race with leaders Arsenal ahead of our Premier League clash with Nottingham Forest on Wednesday at 19:30 (UK).

Guardiola has won six Premier League titles during his time at the Etihad Stadium but says he is not the same manager that arrived in the summer of 2016.

City’s playing style is always developing, not just season by season but on a weekly basis to try to outplay opponents.

And the boss says he and the players have to keep learning in order to find ways to keep winning.

“When I arrived there were a lot of long balls, my second game was Stoke City so I learned,” Guardiola said in his pre-match press conference.

“In Spain there was not much and in Germany there was not a lot of transition, but here there’s more long balls.

“We controlled it by making a thousand million passes, now man marking makes it more difficult because they don’t allow you to do it.

“You learn the positions, ten long balls we didn’t lose one but why? You take a look and have to adjust this and that.

“I’m not the same manager who arrived. I’m not the same when we win or we lose. People learn. It’s constant.

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“I learned a lot during this season and how we’re playing now and the start of this season. It’s not good or bad, it’s what the opponent does and the injuries we have, the players that we have now at our disposal.

“It’s not all the time the same, otherwise it would be so boring. The same systems, the same opponents do the same - I would not work. I’d be at home watching series or reading books. But every game is different.

“The way Sean Dyche played is different to now under Vitor Periera. How they [Nottingham Forest] play press set pieces, that is nice.”

Guardiola has been with City considerably longer than the previous Clubs he has managed.

He says the challenge keeps him invigorated as well as a proud record which includes qualifying for the Champions League in each of his seasons here.

“It’s the same managing new players when they come,” he said. “I cannot disappoint them, they don’t know us or me or know what we have to do of course.

“It’s a challenge. Being there again. One more season again being there and close to qualifying for the Champions League and the gap to sixth is quite important right now.

“If we continue next season we will be in the Champions League again, the only English team to have done the past 11 or 12 years.

“Qualifying for the Champions League is the most important title - more than the Premier League and many things, for stability and for many reasons.

“Last season was a lot of pressure and I felt it higher than ever [with the threat] of not qualifying for the Champions League. Fulham, the last game [of the Premier League season], that was the most mentally difficult one.

“This stuff is a challenge for me. Still being there with chances in all competitions is really good.”