The lessons of the 24/25 season should carry Manchester City forward for next season and beyond

Manchester City picked up a 2-nil victory over Fulham yesterday at Craven Cottage on the final day of the 24/25 season. The victory saw Pep Guardiola’s side finish third on the Premier League table. That is a good result considering the tough campaign that Manchester City endured. Manchester City’s victory also ensured that they qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League.

Based on everything that occurred this season, qualifying for the Champions League can be considered a success of sorts for Pep Guardiola’s side. But their failed Champions League campaign and their defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final do leave a bitter taste in the mouth. But each failure from Pep Guardiola’s side is a lesson that they can take from this season. Those lessons could carry Manchester City into next season and beyond if they are heeded.

Injuries crippled the Manchester City squad this season.

Throughout the 24/25 season, injuries crippled the Manchester City squad. There was barely a City player who didn’t miss time due to injury. Oscar Bobb went down with a fractured leg on the eve of the season. Rodri missed nearly all of this season due to an ACL injury he sustained against Arsenal in September. Kevin De Bruyne missed a large chunk of games during the midway point of the 24/25 season. Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and John Stones all broke down around January after their bodies could take no more. Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Jeremy Doku, Ruben Dias, and Ederson, just to name a few, all missed time due to injury.

One lesson for Manchester City to take out of this season is that the players can’t be pushed to their limits once again. We saw the devastating effects that had on Pep Guardiola’s squad this season. That can not be repeated next season, and the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup could lead to the Manchester City players suffering from fatigue again at some point next season. Surely, the lessons of this season can help on this front.

There was an over-reliance on Manchester City’s senior players during this season.

At times this season, Pep Guardiola was overly reliant on his senior players. That did stand out during Manchester City’s poor run of results from the end of November through to January. Perhaps players such as James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly could have been utilised sooner. When Nico O’Reilly did make his breakthrough performance against Bournemouth in Manchester City’s 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at the Vitality Stadium, he brought control and stability to City’s play. Perhaps next season, Pep Guardiola can turn to youth more often. That could also help prevent the Manchester City squad from dealing with fatigue next season.