Pep Guardiola has made the surprising assertion that Manchester City's trophyless 2025 campaign ranks among the finest achievements of his managerial tenure, despite the prolonged absence of midfield linchpin Rodri.
A Season Defined by Absence
The Catalan manager, who endured only the second calendar year without silverware in his decorated career, pointed to the crippling injury to Rodri as the defining challenge. The Spanish midfielder, pivotal to City's previous Treble and four consecutive Premier League titles, underwent knee surgery and missed the majority of the last 18 months.
City entered the season aiming for an unprecedented fifth straight league crown, but Rodri's early setback left them severely handicapped. A damaging mid-season slump, where they managed just one win in nine games, ultimately ended their title hopes. The pain was compounded by a defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final at Wembley.
Pride in Overcoming Adversity
Despite the barren spell, Guardiola's pragmatism shone through as he reflected on the team's resilience. He emphasised that the true measure of success isn't solely in lifting trophies. "We cannot judge the season on whether you win the title or not," Guardiola stated. "There are more important things in life than that."
He reserved special praise for the collective effort in Rodri's absence. "At the end of last season, what we have done, overcome the problems that we had, it was one of the best seasons we have had as a team," he claimed. "The guys who were there, the staff and background staff last season was arguably one of the best that we had. Because it's how you overcome the problems."
Statistically, City still ended the calendar year with the best record of any Premier League side in key metrics: wins, goal difference, and points per game.
Looking Ahead with Optimism
With Rodri now on the brink of a first-team return, Guardiola has cause for renewed optimism. City have shaken off last term's struggles and re-established themselves as title contenders. A victory in their game in hand against Sunderland on New Year's Day would move them to within two points of league leaders Arsenal.
This sets the stage for another gripping duel between Guardiola and his former assistant, Mikel Arteta. The Manchester club has historically held the upper hand in these tense run-ins, while Arsenal are desperate to clear the final hurdle. For Guardiola, a potential seventh Premier League title in a decade in England remains the ultimate prize.
Reflecting on 2025, Guardiola concluded: "In this perspective, now every time when I reflect on what happened last season, I'm more proud than ever about what we have done as a club, how we handled the bad, bad situations."
