(foto: Getty Images)
Despite reaching the FA Cup final, Pep Guardiola says Manchester City’s 2024/25 campaign has been his most emotionally and professionally demanding season to date.
Pep Guardiola has described the 2024/25 season as the most difficult of his managerial career, reflecting on Manchester City's decline in form across both domestic and European competitions.
Speaking ahead of the FA Cup final and with Champions League qualification still at stake, Guardiola admitted the past few months have taken a toll on him emotionally and professionally. His side endured a shocking 13-game run with just one win between late October and December, slipping out of the Premier League title race and suffering an early Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.
"It's been the most difficult, that's for sure. Much more demanding than previous seasons," Guardiola said. "When you don't win, everything becomes more difficult – emotionally, the preparation, the moods."
Guardiola, who has won 18 trophies with City, has also battled through off-field distractions, including reports of a separation from his wife. Despite this, City are still in the top four and could end the season with silverware if they win the FA Cup.
"We represent the fans and the club, and this year we didn’t meet our usual standard. I wasn’t good, the team wasn’t good – but we didn’t give up," Guardiola added.
Looking back on his career, the Spaniard revealed that even his highly demanding spell at Barcelona didn’t compare. At Barca, he clashed with Jose Mourinho, managed superstar egos, and eventually stepped down due to mental exhaustion.
Even now, Guardiola says the drive to prove himself hasn’t gone away: "When players say, 'I have nothing to prove,' they are wrong. I still have to prove myself again and again. That never changes."