Pep Guardiola now ‘refreshed’ ahead of new Manchester City season reveals journalist | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is said to be ‘refreshed’ and ready for the new season with ‘energy up’, buoyed by his new coaching staff additions.

Guardiola and co begin their new Premier League campaign away at Wolves on Saturday evening, with new signing Rayan Ait-Nouri set to make his Premier League debut for Manchester City after joining from the Molineux Stadium for £31 million in June.

City finished in third place in the recent Premier League campaign with 71 points – their lowest points total under Guardiola – and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League at the Round of 16 stage and lost the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace.

The appointment of Hugo Viana as sporting director has witnessed the arrival of six new signings at the Etihad Stadium this summer, with City also parting ways with Kevin De Bruyne, Scott Carson and Kyle Walker.

Guardiola’s side succumbed to injuries across the pitch last term, with Ballon d’Or holder Rodri succumbing to an ACL injury in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal in September 2024 that kept the 29-year-old midfielder out till May.

Walker, who joined Burnley this summer, left for AC Milan on loan in January after losing his place in the starting XI – prompting City to sign Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis as emergency centre-halves amidst a personnel crisis in defence.

City were handed a major boost when Guardiola signed a new deal in the fall of 2024 that will keep him at the Etihad Stadium till the summer of 2027, with Erling Haaland also committing his future to the Blues after penning a sensational 10-year contract till the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

After enduring a sobering campaign on the pitch – off the back of years of unparalleled success – City have undergone a significant dressing room revamp that has provided a breath of fresh air for Guardiola – who is raring to go again as he aims to win a fifth Premier League title in six seasons.

According to journalist Guillem Balague, Guardiola is now ‘refreshed’ and his ‘energy is up’ ahead of the new season. The Manchester City boss is said to have organised meetings with friends for the start of the season to watch games and ‘drink some wine’.

New additions to City’s coaching staff are also said to be the club’s signing of the season, with Guardiola having to do less in training as Pep Ljinders adds energy, better pressure, explosive reactions and is happy to say no to the club’s head coach.

From the side of Pep Guardiola, it is pointed out that the Catalan tactician loves what he is getting from Lijnders as well as Kolo Toure – who made the step up from the club’s Academy to join the first-team squad permanently.

But what does the future hold for Guardiola? Balague says the 54-year-old will not continue in club football after his contract finishes at the Etihad Stadium in two seasons time, although nobody can say if he will even be at City for both of the remaining contracted seasons.