For Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, the 2024/25 campaign was a season to forget.
After years of dominance and regularly winning trophies, the Citizens finally dropped off and ended the season without silverware.
Manchester City finished third in the Premier League, 13 points behind champions Liverpool.
There may have been something to shout about in the form of an FA Cup. But City fell short against Crystal Palace in the final at Wembley.
But there has been little time to dwell, because the Club World Cup recently started out in the US, and City have already played their first two games.
And fans have managed to get a look at some of the club’s new signings.
Rayan Cherki, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Tijjani Reijnders have all made their debuts, and all three have made good impressions so far.
Ait-Nouri was especially fantastic against Al Ain, drawing praise from Pep Guardiola.
While Wydad AC and Al Ain are hardly the most difficult opponents, it has still been good to see City playing in a ruthless fashion, and there is real optimism about the new season ahead.
And some fans were left delighted by some new footage of Guardiola on the beach.
Man City fans make Pep Guardiola claim as brilliant beach footage emerges
As much as City are looking to win the Club World Cup, and claim a large amount of prize money, this is also a good chance for the team to bond.
Obviously, there are new faces, and it’s a great opportunity for them to get settled.
And it isn’t just the players who are looking to tighten the bond.
Earlier this week, Guardiola joined some of his stars on the beach for some two-touch keeping the ball up.
Nathan Ake, Manuel Akanji, Ruben Dias and Reijnders are all participating, with Guardiola extremely involved.
A lot of City fans commented on the positive vibes, and remarked how happy Guardiola was looking after what was undoubtedly a tough and stressful season.
@KaineOduah: “Vibes are so good this is about to be an all-timer season.”
@Managing_City: “Pep Guardiola genuinely looks so happy, considering where he was in November, buzzing for him.”
@AndyAppleby: “I don’t know why, but seeing Pep this happy makes me feel good for the coming season. Seems so much more relaxed and content.”
@dhmcfc: “New signings, Pep’s happy again. We are so back!!!”
City and Guardiola could come roaring back in 2025/26
Guardiola certainly looks to be living his best life in the footage taken at the beach earlier this week.
With City coming up short time and time again in 2024/25, the Spaniard had to have felt pretty run down when all was said and done.
But City have had an extremely positive start to the summer in the transfer window, have won two games at the Club World Cup and one does just feel that something is building.
Guardiola has never really experienced a season quite like 2024/25, and fans will hope that it lights a fire beneath him now.
The hunger will certainly be there, and very possibly, City could come absolutely roaring back.
