Pep Guardiola appears to have his mojo back after a tough 2025 at Manchester City.
In 2024/25, the Spaniard oversaw his worst campaign since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, finishing third in the Premier League and failing to win a trophy.
Manchester City had all kinds of problems throughout.
Perhaps the catalyst was the loss of Rodri to a season-ending injury.
But City struggled in the final third as well, and steps have now been taken to ensure that City bounce back in 2025/26.
Four players arrived in January, and another four have come in this summer – and the Club World Cup has made for entertaining viewing so far.
Pep Guardiola undoubtedly looks happier, and the Manchester City manager lauded one new face at his press conference yesterday – and it was not a player.
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Pep Guardiola already loves Pep Lijnders
City sprung a surprise recently when they brought Pep Lijnders aboard.
Juanma Lillo left his assistant coach role, and Guardiola’s new number two is Jurgen Klopp’s former right-hand man.
Lijnders left Liverpool at the same time as Klopp last year, and then took up the job at RB Salzburg.
He was dismissed, though, in December and will now get stuck back into number two duties at City – and he has already made a big impression on Guardiola.
He said (via Goal): “He’s opened my eyes in many and a few things in a short time. It’s happened for many years from all the assistant managers I’ve had; always I try to drink from their knowledge!
“I need the people like last season with Juanma [Lillo], in the past with Mikel [Arteta], with Enzo [Maresca], with Dome [Torrent], with Rodo [Borrell] – all the assistants help me. Always it’s, ‘What is your opinion? What would you do? How would you do it? What drill will you make?’
“That is what it’s all about, it’s nice, and now we have experience with Kolo [Toure], with James [French], with Pep [Lijnders], and every time he adds something, I say, ‘Wow! This could be good! We could make this step, we can be better’, and that is how the world works! Not just all the time the same, you have to open your mind, and be open to other minds, other people!”
This follows Guardiola stating that Lijnders had ‘inspired’ the players, and he has already been credited with helping City to speed up their play.
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Lijnders appointment could be a masterstroke
Sometimes, a fresh pair of eyes is needed.
In City’s case, perhaps several pairs were required after the struggles of 2024/25.
Much has been made about the signings that City have made this summer, and Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have all looked impressive so far out in the US.
But the appointment of Lijnders could be a very underrated move by City.
Klopp has previously spoken about the intensity Lijnders brings to training. He said of the Dutchman and also Vitor Matos: “Pep and Vito – they are like energisers. They are the next generation. They have a different view, they are like training machines! I say ‘want to play like this, I want to have it like that’ and they shoot 25 sessions out of their hips, like ‘Bam, which one do you want’.
Ultimately, the standards dropped last term and Lijnders, along with Kolo Toure, may help to raise the bar back up again, as well as providing fresh ideas.
