Saturday’s huge 2-1 Premier League win at Nottingham Forest win made it eight wins on the bounce for City across all competitions and ensured Guardiola’s side rounded off a perfect December.
As the boss both reflected on a fine end to 2025 and looked ahead to the onset of an exciting 2026, he said the seeds of City’s resurgence were first sowed at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup campaign in the United States.
Though the Blues’ campaign ended with a frustrating loss to Al-Hilal in the Round of 16, Guardiola said the trip to America had provided a new-look City squad with the chance to reset and recalibrate after a challenging 2024/25 campaign.
And he pointed to one key ingredient that was rediscovered during that transatlantic stay that has helped City roar back with a vengeance across the first half of the 2025/26 season.
“Energy, energy, energy. The energy we lost last season, everyone started to train better and compete better [when we were in America],” Guardiola pointed out.
“Energy. That’s the first action, after we can talk about the back four, the wingers [but first] it has to be energy.
“When we went out to Al-Hilal it wasn’t the fact we didn’t win the Club World Cup - it was the fact we were so good there. It wasn’t holidays.
“I was annoyed because we were good there.
“Good in the training, the players in Boca Raton, in front of the beach, everyone was happy, we made a lot of dinners, a lot of talks on what was going to happen this season.
“And we wanted to extend to live there.
“But after that I spoke with Pep (Lijnders), James (French), Manel (Estiarte), Hugo (Viana), Txiki (Begiristain), and something changed.
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to win but to recognise a team who can do eight wins in a row and compete in the way we do it.
“Can we improve? Absolutely, but this mindset is better.”
The boss also revealed how a mixed start to the season which saw City lose at home to Spurs and then away at Brighton before August was out, didn’t deflect from our sense of renewal and sense of purpose.
“Still, we were in that time not knowing a little bit the players in the best way to suit to play,” Pep added.
“Managers aren’t magicians, when we do something and everything is clear.
“I didn’t expect Nico O’Reilly to make the performance like he has.
“Sometimes you have to realise yourself as well and change a little bit, because we have new players, and the opponents face us in different ways.
“That’s why sometimes you need time and winning helps to advance this process to use the time to be a better team.
“The results helped, and the methodology, Pep Lijnders and James French and Kolo Toure, and new players.
“I want to help them.”
City v Brighton tickets on general sale
We welcome an entertaining Brighton side to the Etihad at 19:30 (UK) on Wednesday 7 January.
And with tickets now on general sale, you could be there to see it!
Fans can now claim three tickets each, with adults from £30 and concessions as low as £15.
Or make it a night to remember with hospitality packages starting from just £180 per person and a wide range of experiences available to suit your budget.
