The 2024/25 Premier League season hasn’t gone as planned for Manchester City. Once the dominant force at the top, City have spent much of the campaign in unfamiliar territory—off the pace, riddled with injuries, and out of Europe before the knockout stages. But even when the sky seemed darkest, belief never left the Etihad dressing room.
Speaking after a tempestuous draw with Arsenal earlier in the season, Manuel Akanji declared: “In the end we always won the title and I don’t think it’s going to be different this year… we’re going to win the league again.” That optimism, however admirable, now feels a world away.
A Season of Setbacks
Autumn was brutal. Injuries piled up in October through December, and losses mounted with them. The usual mid-season revival—the trademark Pep Guardiola bounce—never came. As Christmas loomed, City were described by their manager as “fragile”. Speaking after a harrowing Champions League collapse against Feyenoord, where City blew a 3-0 lead, Guardiola lamented: “We are not able to win games… now it is not going to happen. We cannot close the games.”
It was a turning point. City’s aura of invincibility, especially in Europe, cracked under pressure. The scratch marks on Guardiola’s face that night symbolised the chaos behind closed doors.
Rebuild and Resolve
The January transfer window came early. £180 million was spent ahead of schedule in a bid to rescue the season, and gradually, the clouds began to part. A return to fundamentals—take it one game at a time—replaced lofty ambitions. Yet even that approach demanded something that had been missing: consistency.
And slowly, that consistency emerged.
City’s record over the last 10 matches speaks of a side that never gave up: just one defeat, five wins from the last six, and a return to the FA Cup semi-finals. They’ve climbed the Premier League’s 15-game form table, now second only to Liverpool. Their gritty 1-0 win at Tottenham, a late comeback against Crystal Palace, and efficient performances against Leicester and Villa signal a side rediscovering its rhythm.
Even at Old Trafford, a draw with Manchester United has aged well as the Red Devils falter. New faces like Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes are stepping into the spotlight, proving the squad’s depth and adaptability.
From Collapse to Confidence
The key ingredient? Confidence.
Week after week, post-match interviews echoed the same sentiment: get the next game right, and belief will return. That belief has sparked a quiet resurgence, not flashy or historic, but arguably vital. It’s the kind of revival that won’t earn trophies—but might just secure Champions League football.
Guardiola’s men have been here before. Their winter wobble followed by a spring surge is a well-worn narrative. But this time, they may have left it just too late.
A Fitting End?
With Liverpool poised to break City’s four-year dominance and Arsenal fading once more, Manchester City’s campaign won’t be remembered for glory. But it will be remembered for fight. And if this is the curtain call for some of the club’s ‘old guard’, they’re going out with the same relentless spirit that brought City to the top in the first place.
