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.

Quick take: Big picture: the update fits broader trends across the league with schedule pressure and tight tables. Supporters will watch for clarity from training ground reports and official briefings. Continental stakes raise the intensity, where away goals no longer apply but margins still feel razor thin. We’ll keep an eye on confirmed details as the story develops from official sources.

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Guardiola: Man City apparently not contenders for Champions League