Pep Guardiola warned the Premier League that Manchester City will prove a more complete challenger for honours next season – despite still having a chance of toppling Arsenal this year.
There is a belief outside City that Guardiola is ready to call time on his career in England this summer, while sources close to the Catalan insist he has yet to make a decision on his future.
But Guardiola made clear on Friday that the 2026-27 campaign is on his mind, maintaining that a new-look City that has undergone a squad overhaul still has plenty of room for improvement.
‘We are not a complete team to compete to be a solid [team] – that is the reality,’ Guardiola said when reflecting on the disappointing 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest earlier in the week.
‘But we are in the process of many changes. I’m pretty sure next season will be better. Next season will be better. I don’t have doubts about that.’
Seven points behind Arsenal, City remain in all four competitions before going to Newcastle United in the FA Cup fifth round.
Guardiola is agitated about a lack of rest between the trip to St James’ Park and Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 on Wednesday and claimed ‘here in England it is more important what happens in the Carabao Cup’ than in Europe.
The City boss must decide how many changes he makes to his team with Madrid on the horizon and leapt to the defence of Phil Foden despite another dip in form.
Foden has not scored since mid-December and currently finds himself out of Guardiola’s best XI, with Thomas Tuchel announcing his last England squad before the World Cup on March 20.
‘Step by step, he will be back,’ Guardiola said. ‘His dynamics are still there. The moment he will relax and do what he does.
‘We talk before about Forest but he played good. I had the feeling he played really good. Against Forest, he gave two good assists for Erling (Haaland) for two chances. That is what we want from Phil.
‘Have the courage to be incredibly free in his mind and his soul to express his incredible talent in the final third. Get the ball, turn and go, turn and go.’
