Guardiola: Man City apparently not contenders for Champions League

Pep Guardiola wants Manchester City to show immediate improvement in the Champions League to confound expectations of lifting a second European crown.

City kick-start their 2025-26 campaign in Europe against Serie A champions Napoli on Thursday, with Kevin De Bruyne returning to the Etihad Stadium for the first time.

Guardiola and City endured their first trophyless season in eight years in 2024-25 and have undergone a squad overhaul in the summer to try and compete for titles again.

Their vulnerability was particularly on show in the Champions League last season after scraping through to the knockout play-off round as they finished 22nd in the league phase.

The Citizens were knocked out in the play-offs by Real Madrid, while also suffering chastening defeats to Sporting CP and Juventus during an unprecedented run of results.