The 2025/26 season marked a very important chapter in Manchester City history. Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, the Club is currently going through a year of very significant transition both on and off the field.
The departure of some key figures like Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, and Ederson clearly shows the end of an era. These players have been instrumental in the success of Manchester City in recent years. The current signing of new talents is a sign of a promising future for Manchester City.

Premier League Performance: A Season of Resilience

Manchester City’s Premier League campaign last season wasn't really up to standard. They finished 4th and failed to defend the Premier League title, with Liverpool being the eventual winners.
This current season has been a mixture of both highs and lows. They began the season with an astonishing 4:0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers; the attack was electric. However, their next games left a lot to be desired.
They lost 1:0 to Tottenham Hotspurs. One would expect them to react positively against Brighton, however, they suffered another defeat with Brighton beating them 2:1. Manchester City returned to winning ways by beating City rivals Manchester United 3:0 at the Etihad, with a brace from Haaland and one goal from Phil Foden.
City opened their Champions League campaign with a 2:0 victory against Napoli in Manchester.

From Champions to Third Place Finish

Manchester City showed no atom of the dominant side that we got used to in the Premier League the previous season. City finished 3rd with 71 points, which happens to be their lowest Premier League finish since 2017.
Although City scored plenty of goals 72. however, they still dropped way too many points, most especially away from home. There were so many defensive mistakes and inconsistencies, which inevitably cost them the Premier League.
City usually finish 1st, so when they finished 3rd, it became a bit disappointing. However, they still managed to secure Champions League football for the 2025/2026 season.

European Disappointment: Real Madrid End City’s Champions League Dream

The Champions League was another difficult story for the English giants. After managing to get through the group stage, they were paired with Spanish giants Real Madrid in the knockout play-offs. Madrid were at their immaculate best, battering City 6-3 on aggregate.
For Guardiola’s team, it was a story of what City's season has become. Although City had the obvious qualities to win games, the defense and control of key moments in games were lacking.
The long-term sideline of Balloon d’Or winner Rodri played a very important role in City's struggle. After winning the Champions League two seasons ago, City's exit in the hands of Real Madrid hurts fans.

Haaland’s Firepower Amidst Mixed Cup Results

Erling Haaland was again City’s main star. The Norwegian latched on to 22 Premier League goals and 33 goals in all competitions. His goals were enough to keep City alive in most games.
However, they weren't enough, as they lost the FA Cup finals to Crystal Palace after conceding from an Eberechi Eze strike. They were also knocked out by Tottenham Hotspurs in the 4th round of the Carabao Cup.

Conclusion

Manchester City’s 2024/25 season had so many highs and lows. While Haaland was actively scoring, City were conceding too many goals too. They fell short in the Champions League and cup games.
However, they're still one of the best teams in the world. The reinforcement of new players this season will mean City might just be on their way back to where they belong.

Check today’s predictions on MentorsPredict.com and win smarter!