Since the arrival of Pep Guardiola is based on the return of their side and Ballon d’Or Holder Rodri, Manchester City has attempted to reign over British football’s dominance ten months after Manchester City last surpassed the Premier League.
This is the decline of New York City, the near-senseless ghost of the UEFA Champions League exile hanging over the 2023/24 European Championship. They avoided the fate of the second half of the season, and, despite the surprise, deserved FA Cup final defeat to Crystal Palace, summing up their struggle.
Erling Haaland still contributed 34 goals in all matches, while the Premier League’s most worried striker will be determined to win the golden boot of Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, while Phil Foden has been looking to rejuvenate since winning the Premier League player this season in 2024.
Is the city destined to keep running, or will Guardiola produce another style reinvention of his to restore them to the summit?
Manchester City signs on 2025/26
City added width and speed to the range on both sides, signing Wolves’ aggressive left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for £31m and signing Wolves from Lyon for over £30m, last seen the former club in Europa League last season cause torture.
In the middle of last season, Dutch International Tijjani Reijnders was the midfielder of the season, selling for £46m from Milan, former City Academy product James Trafford signed from Burnley, which could add to the British goalkeeper record.
What else will Manchester City change in 2025/26?
Guardiola will need him to pour into the form of midfielders and Foden to make up for Kevin de Bruyne’s brightness departure, while John Stone is back after disappearing last season and can be joined by Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji, who are also helpless with injuries.
Kyle Walker has moved to Burnley, meaning the right-back will no longer be able to match speeds like Jeremy Doku and Savinho Guardiola to a large extent.
Rodri’s influence and originality certainly have a huge impact when the midfield returns, and Trafford (who had the best record of any goalkeeper in England last season) could replace Ederson, who seems to be precious on the edge of the exit.
Manchester City is not alone, hoping their case has more than 115 charges related to fair financial competition, not sooner or later, and the club always speaks of their complete innocence.
Where will Manchester City complete on 2025/26?
Guardiola saw encouraging signs of cohesion and new desire at the club World Cup, and he was determined to drive away the strength of his worst season in eight years, which would be no surprise if City rediscover the best situation on their racing stadium.
The lack of evidence shows that their time to fully recover makes it impossible for people to confidently expect a major overhaul of last season’s top two. A third place finish again may make Guardiola consider his future.
