Manchester City’s 2024/25 campaign marked the most challenging period of Pep Guardiola’s tenure, with the club recording their longest run of poor form since his arrival in 2016.
In response, the club made significant changes to both personnel and structure.
During the January 2025 transfer window, City signed five players to strengthen key positions. The restructuring continued in the summer, with further additions to the squad and adjustments within the backroom staff.
These moves reflected a wider shift in planning as City sought to address both immediate performance issues and long-term squad balance.
The scale of turnover has introduced a transitional phase for the club. Guardiola faces the task of integrating the new signings, adapting tactical systems, and ensuring cohesion within a side that has undergone change in a short period.
The central question now is how City’s tactical identity will evolve: what Guardiola intends in terms of style and structure, and how the current squad is performing in comparison to that intended approach.
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