3 Improvements Man City Must Make in 2025/26

The Citizens had a chance to put things right in a Champions League away game at Bodo/Glimt. Instead, Pep Guardiola’s side fell to a shock 3-1 away loss in one of the biggest European upsets of all time. 

These below-par performances have exposed cracks in a usually dominant side in English football. 

Guardiola’s team sit seven points behind Arsenal in the title race and sit outside the Champions League’s top eight places with one group-stage match remaining. 

While City are far from crisis mode, the standards they have set mean this slump feels significant. There are clear areas Guardiola and the club must confront if City are to halt their slide and reassert themselves in 2025/26.

One of the most consistent issues at City this season is defensive vulnerability. 

Against both Manchester United and Bodo/Glimt, City were exposed once possession was lost. Full-backs stepping into midfield and centre-backs holding a high line were pounced upon by United and Bodo/Glimt, who were both ruthless on the counter-attack.

Rodri’s inconsistent appearances and reduced influence in key moments have amplified defensive issues. City’s system is built on control, and when that control breaks down, the defence is left defending large spaces rather than compact zones shut down by the holding midfielder. 

For 2025/26, City must either restore their midfield protection to elite levels or adapt structurally. That could mean more conservative full-back roles in certain matches or clearer situational discipline when chasing games. 

The imminent return of Nico Gonzalez could help to combat this issue. In addition, Rodri will likely improve with more game time as he gets back to full sharpness following a lengthy ACL injury lay-off. 

Guardiola has always evolved and tightening defensive control without sacrificing dominance may be his next challenge in this campaign. 

Man City’s attack remains potent on paper. Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders all offer top quality in the final third. 

Recent performances have shown how heavily they still rely on Erling Haaland to turn possession into goals. When Haaland is isolated, out of form, or tightly marked, City can dominate territory without delivering a decisive end product. 

Opponents have become increasingly comfortable sitting deep, congesting central areas, and dragging City forward, only to beat them on the counter. In recent matches, City’s possession has lacked urgency and variety, with too much responsibility falling on one focal point.

Guardiola’s best sides have always spread goals across the team (they had 17 different goal scorers in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign). For City to improve next season, secondary scorers must be more consistent, and tactical patterns must create clearer chances from wide and half-space positions.

That may involve faster ball circulation, more vertical runs from midfield, or greater freedom for creative players to attack the box. 

A more unpredictable City attack would make neutralising Haaland far more difficult and restore the ruthless edge that has defined their dominance.

Perhaps the most subtle issue is the lack of experience and influence in the first team. 

Missing highly experienced players like John Stones, Ruben Dias, Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic and Joskov Gvardiol due to injury has clearly impacted City’s levels during the winter fixture pile-up. 

Ultimately, this has led to a reliance on less experienced players in important positions. For example, Guardiola has started with the centre back pairing of Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov in five consecutive games.  

While the pair have shown glimpses of defensive strength, particularly in the 2-0 win at Newcastle, they have been exposed in the last two games against Man United and Bodo/Glimt. 

The defeat at Old Trafford followed a familiar pattern: a slow start, frustration setting in, and an inability to wrestle control back once behind. In Europe, the loss in Norway carried similar themes, with City unable to impose authority in hostile conditions.

Guardiola has previously spoken about the importance of hunger and emotional intensity, and this season suggests a natural dip after years of relentless success. Rebuilding that mental edge will be just as important as tactical tweaks in the coming weeks.