The manager has collected 18 major trophies in his near 10 years with City – one each of the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup, six Premier Leagues, two FA Cups, four League Cups and three Community Shields.
He’s undoubtedly overseen the most successful period in City’s 130-year history and further cemented his name as one of the game’s all-time inspired and truly transformational managers.
After winning the Community Shield at the start of the 2024/25 campaign, the season was more of a struggle overall with injuries taking hold as we finished 13 points behind eventual champions Liverpool in the Premier League, failed to reach the knockout phase of the Champions League and exited the Carabao Cup at the fourth round stage.
The Blues did finish with a flourish, however, to qualify for this season’s Champions League courtesy of a third place finish in the Premier League as well as reaching the FA Cup final.
Guardiola, reflecting on where we sit now as this season builds to an exciting crescendo, is delighted to be back in the mix for the major honours again.
“The privilege to be in March and always I believe winter time is finished in February and February is over. So March starts to be 5pm and 6pm it’s not dark, it’s still a little bit light,” he told the press at his media briefing ahead of Wednesday’s 19:30 (UK) clash with Nottingham Forest.
“And we are in the competitions so it’s a dream. Again.
“Except last season, where we fought for Champions League qualification and FA Cup final and Champions League we were out and Carabao Cup we were out but now we are there.
“It’s such a privilege knowing that 10 games left and a final next Saturday against Newcastle, two games against Real Madrid, it’s you win and you continue but if you lose it’s holidays in that competition.
“So it’s good to be here. But prepare for tomorrow is my only concern about that.”
Guardiola also stressed that it’s been vital for his team to evolve to the changing landscape in the Premier League.
It’s fair to say that set-pieces have become more prevalent this season and the boss insisted that adaptation was of the utmost importance for any manager wanting to be successful.
“Before four years ago in NBA, the three points shot was not involved as much,” he added.
“Like Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry make three points and everyone adapts now Boston Celtics do it as well, so many teams.
“It’s part of the evolution and the dynamics, you can complain or you can adapt.
“It’s part of the game. My business I’m a manager, when there are set pieces I don’t say to the referees ‘I don’t like set-pieces, go out’. It’s what it is, adapt and do it.
“I said before, there are thousand million things, football has not been played one way since it was created. Football play in England is different to Spain, it’s different in Italy that’s nice, that’s why the Champions League is nice, in different ways, even in that country, every manager plays in different ways.
“That’s why it’s nice and attractive, how boring it would be if all the leagues and managers play the same way. How boring would it be?
“If I like or don’t like, it’s my business. I don’t like I don’t watch as a spectator. I have to adapt, it’s a question of how quick you adapt.”
Be at City v Nottingham Forest!
We welcome Forest to the Etihad Stadium at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 4 March.
And you can be there to see it as Pep Guardiola’s City continue to chase Premier League glory.
Tickets for this game are now on sale to all fans, starting from just £25 for adults and £23 for U18s.
Or, if you fancy something more special, hospitality packages start from just £199 with other experiences tailored for every budget!
