Pep Guardiola defended Manchester City’s poor start to the season by explaining that integrating seven new signings and a refreshed coaching staff required time, asserting that “managers are not magicians.”
Pep Guardiola has delivered a passionate defense of Manchester City’s turbulent start to the season following a major summer overhaul.
After a trophyless 2024-25 campaign, the club underwent significant upheaval, including the arrival of sporting director Hugo Viana and seven new signings.
Guardiola explained that the early struggles, which saw City drop into the bottom half of the table in August, were a necessary part of a complex adaptation process.
Reflecting on the time needed to integrate new talent and coaching staff, Guardiola emphasized that immediate perfection is unrealistic in elite football.
He noted that tactical adjustments, such as positioning Erling Haaland and integrating winger Savio, required patience and experimentation.
“Managers are not magicians to say, ‘Okay we’re going to do it and everything is click’,” Guardiola stated, adding that winning matches has since accelerated the team’s development and restored their competitive edge.
Four months after their early setbacks, the Blues have extended their winning streak to eight games following a 2-1 victory over Nottingham Forest.
Guardiola highlighted the return of “energy” to the squad—something he felt was missing during the previous season.
As City sits in pole position to challenge Arsenal for the title, the manager remains focused on the “mythology” of the club’s new era and the impending arrival of further reinforcements in January.