Matheus Nunes issues exciting update on the Manchester City squad ahead of new season | OneFootball

Things are already changing within Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City playing squad, Matheus Nunes has told reporters this week.

That insight comes despite the obvious disappointment of Manchester City exiting the FIFA Club World Cup much earlier than they would have hoped when their pathway in the knockout stages was revealed last week.

Having become the only side to record three victories in their three group stage matches, Pep Guardiola’s side secured themselves a more favourable route to the Final in New York later this month, but fell at the first hurdle.

It was Simone Inzaghi’s Al Hilal who sent Manchester City packing and heading home on Monday night via a sensational 3-4 victory across the course of 120 minutes at the Camping World Stadium, despite Phil Foden’s equaliser deep in extra-time.

Pep Guardiola has tried to remain positive himself after the contest, looking ahead to the return to work at the City Football Academy with excitement, insisting that the upcoming 2025/26 season will bring much better fortunes than the last campaign.

And speaking to reporters around Manchester City’s FIFA Club World Cup last-16 defeat to Al Hilal, makeshift right-back Matheus Nunes has indicated there are already major differences between the latest iteration of the squad and that of last season’s failed contingent.

“We’re still early in the season, but I think the energy is different,” the Portugal international admitted. “I think last year we were a little down in terms of spirit, but we know what it means to play for Manchester City and this season that’s definitely going to change.”

Reflecting on the last campaign, Nunes said, “I think a lot of things happened last year that didn’t go well. I don’t know the reasons.

“But I think there is a very fundamental principle for all games – go on to the field to win the three points. I think this year is going to be different.”

Matheus Nunes continues to face somewhat of an uncertain future at the Etihad Stadium this summer, despite his bright performances for the club in his new-found role of right-back under Pep Guardiola.

The Portuguese midfielder struggled to break into Guardiola’s central plans since joining from Wolves in the summer of 2023, but has held down a starting spot on the right of the back-four since Kyle Walker’s exit last January.

The belief in various quarters is that Manchester City would ideally aim to sign a new natural right-back, with Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento believed to be the primary target, although Pep Guardiola holds admiration in the work put in to improve by Nunes.