Pep Guardiola insists Manchester City are edging back towards their unstoppable level, even after a painful exit from the UEFA Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid.
City’s ambitions of reclaiming European glory — having lifted the trophy in 2023 — were halted emphatically as Madrid sealed a 5-1 aggregate victory in the last-16 tie.
It was a sobering result for Guardiola’s side, yet the City manager struck a notably upbeat tone when assessing his team’s current trajectory.
A team “close” to something special in domestic competitions and across Europe
Guardiola believes the foundations are already in place for another strong cycle, even if the final polish is still missing. Speaking after the defeat, he suggested that his players are not far from rediscovering their highest level.
“I have the feeling that in many things it is just underneath, it will flourish,” Guardiola said. “I have the feeling that it is close.
“In other things we need a little bit more time to realise, and for the players to realise what we need to be a strong team in many departments, but in most of the things we are close.”
Those comments reflect a manager who sees progress beyond the immediate disappointment. While the loss to Madrid exposed a gap at the very top level, Guardiola hinted that it is not a wide one — more a matter of refinement than reinvention.
City now have an immediate opportunity to respond. They face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, with the chance to secure their first silverware of the campaign.
At the same time, they remain in pursuit of Arsenal in the Premier League title race and are still alive in the FA Cup, having reached the quarter-finals.
For Guardiola, these competing fronts underline a broader point: that City are functioning at a high level across competitions, even if perfection has eluded them.
The Spaniard drew a clear comparison with last season, which he described as underwhelming despite reaching the FA Cup final.
In his view, this campaign has shown greater stability and control, regardless of how it ultimately concludes.
“Last season we arrived in the final of the FA Cup against Crystal Palace. We played really well but there were many things behind the scenes we could not control and the season was not good,” he said.
“Even if we had won against Crystal Palace, the season had not been good. Many things happened that were not what a team should be.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen but this season has been more than decent. Most of the time we have been a team that is not perfect but is good.”
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It is a measured assessment, one that acknowledges flaws without losing sight of the broader picture. Guardiola has long demanded consistency from his teams, and he identified that as the next crucial step if City are to return to their dominant best.
“The other things to be aware of, maybe for the type of players that we have, is to do what we need to be consistent for 11 months in important games,” he said.
“The gap is a little but in many aspects we are an extraordinary team.”
When pressed on exactly what remains missing, Guardiola offered only a brief response: “I won’t tell you but I know it and the players know it.”
For now, City’s season remains alive on multiple fronts. The disappointment in Europe may linger, but Guardiola’s message is clear — his side are not far away, and the belief within the camp remains intact.
