Pep Guardiola admits he has failed to meet Manchester City’s expectations this season | OneFootball

Pep Guardiola has candidly reflected on a sub-standard season for Manchester City and admitted he has fallen short of his own expectations this term.

The 54-year-old signed a two-year deal in the fall of 2024 that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium till the end of the 2026-27 campaign, a bonus for Manchester City ahead of a busy transfer window likely to witness several new arrivals.

However, the 2023 treble winners have turned a corner since April and have clicked into gear in the business end of this season, which will see them come up against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday.

Speaking in a press conference prior to Manchester City’s goalless draw against Southampton at St. Mary’s last time out, Pep Guardiola was quizzed on how he reflects on what has been a disappointing year for the Catalan.

“It has been more demanding. Much more. When you don’t win, it’s more demanding emotionally and preparing and the moods and everything. It’s more and more difficult,” the Manchester City manager said.

“It has been more and more difficult than the previous seasons that we played for the winning of titles.” On whether this has been the most demanding season of his managerial career, Guardiola added: “It’s been the most difficult, yes. That’s for sure.

“We had a lot of injuries. We didn’t have the energy. We tried most of the time, but we were not able to do it. I didn’t find a way to let them feel comfortable in winning games that helped us to win more games to be there.

“But at the same time, it’s happened. You cannot win all the time in your career. Accept the reality like the normality that is life, and learn, and improve.”

Guardiola admitted this has been the most demanding season of his managerial career, pointing to the wide array of challenges he has faced to match the standards Manchester City have set for themselves over the years.

He said: “We didn’t win one game, for many months we weren’t able to win a lot of games. It’s demanding and we didn’t win. With this business, you have to win games. Otherwise you cannot be here next time.

“We represent people and a club that you have to do your job as best as possible, and this season we didn’t do that. We were in a high standard and we dropped. Even with that, I would say it could be worse.

“I know how many champions and it starts in September, October, November that they don’t find a way to win the Premier League and they finish 12th. 6th or 7th is fine. But 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th – a lot.

“Just look at the history. Even with that, we were not good, I was not good to find a way, but we didn’t give up. That’s why we are here. We’re still fighting to qualify for the Champions League – that is a big, big, big prize. Everyone has to admit that and even in the final of the FA Cup.

“And we won the Community Shield at the beginning of the season against (Manchester) United. We won one title, we fight for the second, and qualifying.

“In terms of results after that, I said OK, it’s not been good, I know. But it could be worse! Still, we were there. I was there. The players were there. Not our best, but we didn’t give up.”

Manchester City have an important few months ahead as they look to recruit four to five first-team signings and tempt the likes of Florian Wirtz, Morgan Gibbs-White and Tijjani Reijnders to the Etihad Stadium to challenge on all fronts next season.

Guardiola will be backed heavily in the transfer market by incoming sporting director Hugo Viana and after a few years of lucrative sales – where Julian Alvarez, Riyad Mahrez and Cole Palmer have all left Manchester City – there is money to spend.