Pep Guardiola has emphasized the significance of fresh players and staff for the upcoming season at Manchester City. He is confident that they will inject new energy into the team following a lackluster previous year.
Guardiola stated that his desire for the summer is to “provide me with exceptional players.” Last season was not favorable for the team, as they ended up in third place in the Premier League, trailing 13 points behind the champions, Liverpool, and failed to secure any major trophies.
The off-season presents an excellent opportunity for the club to make several changes, particularly with Kevin De Bruyne’s departure. This transition allows them to focus on rebuilding and setting their sights on achieving success in the upcoming year, When asked on Wednesday about potential additions for the transfer window.
Guardiola spoke about the importance of acquiring exceptional players. He stated, “The key is always the same: we need top-quality talent. The good players can easily adjust and integrate into our system. We are prepared to adapt our movements, tactics, and strategies to align with the strengths of our new players.”
“And especially [give me] players that go to Anfield, go to [Real] Madrid, the Bernabéu, Barcelona, Camp Nou or wherever and say: ‘OK, I’m going to play my best.’ That is the difference, the top players have that.
We should not forget that it was a difficult season for us. If we manage to win, it doesn’t mean everything should stay the same. After a victory, instead of getting comfortable, we should use it as a stepping stone to even greater achievement. Winning is just the beginning; it’s an opportunity to reflect on our strategies and understand what led to our success. By analyzing these factors, we can build on our victories and fine-tune our plans for future challenges. This ongoing process is vital for our growth and brings about a mindset of continuous improvement. Day by day, every game, and every week presents us with fresh opportunities for development. While changes are essential, our focus extends far beyond our recent Community Shield victory; it’s all part of our pursuit of excellence. Let’s keep pushing forward together!
There are reports that Manchester City has reached an agreement worth €55 million (about $62 million) with AC Milan to sign midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. There’s also a possibility of adding Wolves’ full-back Rayan Aït-Nouri to the team.
There will be major changes in Guardiola’s coaching staff this summer. His assistants, Juanma Lilo and Iñigo Domínguez, are set to depart, and set-piece coach Carlos Vicens has been appointed head coach at the Portuguese club Braga.
Jürgen Klopp’s previous assistant, Pep Lijnders, who recently managed Red Bull Salzburg, is set to join the backroom staff.
While Guardiola shared his feelings of sadness over the departure of colleagues he has worked closely with, he is optimistic that the new additions to both the playing and coaching staff will bring renewed energy for the upcoming season.
“I will miss those I genuinely care about, and they mean a lot to me, but this has happened before with many others,” he said.
“Throughout the last 15 years, many have left; it feels like everyone has betrayed me! Yet, the newcomers, the younger individuals and fresh players, always introduce a certain energy that rejuvenates everything.
“I rely on the energy around me from the people in my life. You can see it in their eyes—the excitement of new faces that show enthusiasm, like saying, ‘I want to be a part of this.’ This energy feels refreshing, especially during our training sessions.
“But when it comes to success, it’s not just about winning another Premier League title, another Champions League, or another Community Shield. Those achievements don’t really change much for me. “What matters is the fresh energy that new people bring every day. That’s why bringing in new players and staff is so valuable.”
Any players that City signs before June 10 will be eligible to register for the Club World Cup, which is scheduled to begin in the United States later this month.
Guardiola and the City players who aren’t playing in international matches are expected to return to training on June 9. They plan to head to their training camp in Florida on June 12, ahead of their first match against Wydad AC in Philadelphia on June 18.
