After Manchester City became the first English team to win four consecutive Premier League titles from 2020 to 2024, the Sky Blues were hopeful that they would be able to build on this success. What followed, however, would be a disappointing season.
At the start of the 2024/2025 campaign, Manchester City (the winners of the 2023/2024 EPL season) faced Manchester United (the winners of the 2023/2024 FA Cup) in the FA Community Shield. Manchester United initially broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute when Alejandro Garnacho fired a left-footed strike past City goalkeeper Ederson.
Bernardo Silva would equalize in the 89th minute, however, forcing the match to go to a penalty shootout. Manchester City would defeat Manchester United 7-6 on penalties, thus securing the FA Community Shield and City’s first piece of silverware in the 2024/2025 season.
What transpired, however, was a series of unfortunate events. In the EFL “Carabao” Cup, Manchester City entered the competition in the Third Round. They hosted Championship side Watford, where they scraped by in a 2-1 victory. Manchester City were then eliminated in the competition’s Fourth Round when they traveled to Tottenham Hotspur, where they lost 2-1.
As for the UEFA Champions League, the Sky Blues were expected to perform well in the competition’s new format. But Manchester City dropped points in draws with Internazionale and Feyenoord and losses to Sporting CP, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain. The Sky Blues would barely advance out of the Champions League’s League Phase, where they were then defeated by Real Madrid in the Knockout Phase Play-offs.
Finally, in the English Premier League, Manchester City were unable to maintain their solid defensive record from previous seasons. It appeared that the mental and physical demands of winning the EPL four seasons in a row from 2020 to 2024, as well as the treble in the 2022/2023 season and the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in 2023, had caught up with the Sky Blues. The players were fatigued, and the EPL season ended with Manchester City finishing third with 71 points, drawing eight matches and losing nine. They also conceded 44 goals during the process.
A silver lining was that Manchester City had advanced to their third consecutive FA Cup Final, and it was anticipated that the Sky Blues would defeat opponents Crystal Palace. But silverware was not in the cards for City that season, and they would earn a surprising 1-0 loss to the Eagles in the FA Cup.
Following the conclusion of the disappointing 2024/2025 season, Manchester City entered the FIFA Club World Cup, where they were eliminated in the competition’s Round of 16. The club then took steps to rejuvenate the squad in hopes of winning silverware during the upcoming 2025/2026 campaign.
An exodus of players followed. Club hero Kevin De Bruyne left on a free transfer for Napoli, while Ilkay Gundogan left for Galatasaray on a free transfer. Manchester City captain Kyle Walker left for Burnley. Ederson would be sold to Fenerbahce, while Stefan Ortega would be sold to Nottingham Forest. Youngsters Oscar Bobb and James McAtee were sold to Fulham and Nottingham Forest, respectively. Finally, Manuel Akanji was loaned to Internazionale, and Jack Grealish was loaned to Everton.
These nine players all played an important role in City’s quest for silverware between the 2020 and 2024 seasons, indicating that a series of changes would come at the club for the forthcoming 2025/2026 campaign.
In an attempt to refurbish the squad, the Sky Blues welcomed Tijjani Reijnders, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, James Trafford, Marcus Bettinelli, and Gianluigi Donnarumma during the summer 2025 transfer window. Manchester City also brought in Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi during the January 2026 transfer window. The introduction of these players saw Manchester City adopt an essentially new squad, one determined to win silverware.
Several months later, it appears that the changes to the squad have paid off. Toward the start of the season, Manchester City entered the EFL “Carabao” Cup’s Third Round, where they defeated Huddersfield Town in September 2025. The Sky Blues would then progress through the competition, defeating Swansea City in the competition’s Fourth Round, Brentford in the Quarter-finals, and Newcastle United in the Semi-finals (the Sky Blues won both legs of the Semi-finals). The results meant that they would advance to the 2025/2026 EFL “Carabao” Cup Final, where they would face Arsenal. At the time, several pundits and football experts predicted that an in-form Arsenal side would win the trophy. But instead, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0, earning their first piece of silverware during the 2025/2026 campaign.
Manchester City’s success would not end there. Having been disappointed by their loss to Crystal Palace during the 2024/2025 FA Cup, the Sky Blues sought redemption in the new campaign. They would enter the competition in the Third Round, where they defeated Exeter City in January 2026.
The Sky Blues would then fight their way to the final, defeating Salford City in the Fourth Round, Newcastle United in the Fifth Round, Liverpool in the Quarter-finals, and Southampton in the Semi-finals. The results meant that Manchester City would make a historic fourth consecutive FA Cup Final. Having lost the 2024 Final to Manchester United and the 2025 Final to Crystal Palace, they were determined to make it count.
Manchester City defeated Chelsea 1-0, earning their second piece of silverware during the 2025/2026 campaign. The BBC also reported that City became the first club to win 100% of their matches across both domestic cup competitions.
The transfers City made during this season have had a large impact. Throughout the EFL “Carabao” Cup campaign, Manchester City kept a clean sheet in three of their six matches, including the final. Similarly, during their FA Cup run, City kept a clean sheet in three of their six matches, including the final. The performances in both competitions suggest that City’s defense has improved significantly, thus helping them to a domestic double.
Critics will state that of the four competitions City have entered this season, the EFL “Carabao” Cup and the FA Cup are not on the same tier as the UEFA Champions League and the EPL. This season, Manchester City were eliminated by Real Madrid in the Champions League’s Round of 16. In addition, second-placed City currently find themselves five points behind current league leaders Arsenal in the EPL with two matches to play.
But City have a game in hand, and should they win against Bournemouth today, then they could cut Arsenal’s lead to two points, thus challenging for the title on the final day of this season, which will be on May 24. Anything could happen then. The fact that this largely new squad won two trophies in their first season together, and that they are still challenging for the title in May, suggests that this has been a successful season. The transformation the Sky Blues have undergone this season has been significant.
No one is certain how the remainder of the 2025/2026 season will end. City may have to settle for the two domestic trophies they have earned, or they could find themselves earning a historic domestic treble. Regardless of what happens, the Sky Blues have had a successful and memorable 2025/2026 campaign. The transformation of the City squad this season and the successes they have had in various competitions suggest that this new City squad is determined to make its mark on English football and will continue to challenge for trophies.
Grading the 2025/2026 season for Man City
How does the 2025/2026 season measure up overall?
- Man City's FA Cup grade: A
- Man City's EFL Cup grade: A
Manchester City won the EFL “Carabao” Cup and the FA Cup, demonstrating significant defensive improvement and a renewed collective identity under Guardiola compared to last season.
- Man City's Champions League grade: C
The Champions League exit at the Round of 16 against Real Madrid, however, was a disappointment. Performance in European competitions is a benchmark for elite clubs, and City fell short of it this season.
But context matters. This was a largely refurbished squad, one that takes time for chemistry to develop. That a largely new group of players could come together, win two major trophies, and challenge for the Premier League title in their first full season together is a genuine achievement.
Should Manchester City win their remaining two EPL games against Bournemouth on May 19 and Aston Villa on May 24, and if Arsenal drops points to Crystal Palace on May 24, then these results would see Manchester City win the title.
- If Man City win the Premier League: A
This possibility was unthinkable in April, when Arsenal at one point was nine points clear of Manchester City. Should City win the EPL, then this season would receive a grade of an A, even with the UEFA Champions League exit in the Round of 16. A domestic treble, delivered by a rebuilt squad in a transitional year, would be one of the more remarkable accomplishments of the Guardiola era at the Etihad.
- If Man City finish second in the Premier League: B
But if Manchester City do not win the league, it would still be considered a successful season. City would finish this campaign with a grade of a B.
Securing a domestic double by winning the EFL “Carabao” Cup and the FA Cup, and a second-place finish in the English Premier League would represent meaningful progress from the struggles of 2024/2025 season. The foundation for future success is in place, and the Sky Blues have given their supporters plenty to be proud of during this campaign.
Either way, Guardiola will complete his time with Manchester City at the end of this season with his head held high. The 2025/2026 season has been a success and one to remember in City history.
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