Pep Guardiola is keeping his focus firmly on Manchester City’s long-term development as the club prepares for the first leg of the League Cup semi-final away to Newcastle. Rather than measuring success by silverware alone, the City manager is doubling down on performance, improvement, and consistency as the true indicators of progress.
Manchester City ended last season without a major trophy for the first time in eight years, although they did secure the Community Shield after defeating Manchester United on penalties. For many clubs, that outcome would trigger internal pressure and public scrutiny. Guardiola, however, dismissed the idea that missing out on major trophies has changed his mindset.
“It’s not about winning or not winning trophies, it’s about how the team grows up, how the team is better,” he said during his pre-match press conference.
Guardiola made it clear that last season’s shortcomings were deserved based on performance levels. He stressed that trophies do not always reflect quality, especially in knockout competitions where luck can play a role.
“Last season we didn’t deserve to win more than just one trophy, because we didn’t play good. So satisfaction to win a trophy when we are not playing good, can happen, you know, knockout stages, (you can be) lucky.”
He reinforced his philosophy by emphasizing that short-term success without strong performance offers little satisfaction. For Guardiola, the real reward comes from building a team that performs at a high level consistently.
“It’s not about that. Believe me, it’s not about that. We are here to make the team play better, the satisfaction is to make a good performance for ourselves, our fans.”
Why does Guardiola value performance over trophies?
Over the past year, Guardiola has overseen a significant rebuild of his squad following the departure of several key players. Rather than rushing expectations, he views this period as a necessary phase of growth. According to him, improvement must happen step by step, match by match, before results can truly follow.
“That is the target, and all the time has been like that,” he explained. “And after, when you are in that process, and you fight for the title, you can win it.”
Guardiola also offered a candid take on the fleeting nature of success in elite football. Titles bring praise, but that recognition fades quickly, replaced by new demands and challenges.
“But after the title, big compliments, the day after, a little bit less compliments, two days after, three days, it’s forgotten. It’s another. So it’s the journey, it’s how you improve. That is what you have to do to live our profession.”
This mindset has previously fueled City’s dominance. From 2018, the club won the League Cup four times in a row, using the competition as a springboard for a decade of sustained success under Guardiola. That consistency was disrupted last season when Liverpool dethroned City as Premier League champions.
Where does Man City stand in the current season?
In the ongoing campaign, City find themselves six points behind league leaders Arsenal, highlighting the competitive balance at the top of English football. The League Cup semifinals reflect that intensity, with Chelsea hosting Arsenal in the first leg of the other tie.
For Guardiola, these matches are less about immediate glory and more about measuring how far his evolving team has come. As City continue to adjust and rebuild, his message remains clear. Strong performances and steady improvement are the foundation, and trophies, if earned, will follow naturally.
By Yockshard Enyendi