Pep Guardiola is happy with the progress of his Manchester City team but they need to go up a gear

Manchester City continued their rebuild during the summer transfer window. Entering the 25/26 season it was obvious that it would take time for this City team to come together. At times Pep Guardiola’s side has shown signs of what they will become once everything gels. There have been other occasions when you can see how far away it is before this City team becomes everything that Pep Guardiola wants from his team.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s Premier League clash with Sunderland,  Pep Guardiola has said that he is pleased with the progress of his team. But it is time for City to go up a gear starting today against a tough Sunderland side.

Speaking ahead of Manchester City’s clash with Sunderland, Pep Guardiola was asked if he was happy with the progress his team has made so far this season. He told the media that he was, but the work was far from complete. Speaking on the progress of his team, Pep Guardiola told the media : “ Yes. Always I try to see how the team is developing, and I want to feel that we are getting better. ”

“ Of course, being close to top of the Premier League and the Champions League – take away the Bayer Leverkusen result and we’d be in a perfect position – but now it is a little bit more difficult. “

“ I said from the beginning, I’m happy and positive and I think the team will do well. Everything is judged immediately. There is no time for training or to reflect a little. ”

“ The external situation like everything is chaos and a disaster [if we lose] or we are doing well and are candidates to win everything. ”

“ It’s not going to change – we have to – it’s our duty to try to do it. ”

As Pep Guardiola said there have been clear signs of progress from his new-look side this season. At times this Manchester City have shown the control and play that a Pep Guardiola side is renowned for. The first half of Manchester City’s 3-nil win over Liverpool is a prime example of this. On other occasions, it remains clear just how far this City side has to go to become a force. The second half performances in their most recent wins over Leeds and Fulham emphasise this point . This Manchester City side isn’t the finished product and they remain inconsistent in games.

It is now time for City to go up a gear starting today against Sunderland. Régis Le Bris’ side are a tough opponent as their sixth position in the Premier League suggests. Pep Guardiola’s squad will likely not be able to have many lapses in today’s match. Today’s match is the ideal setting for City to go up a gear and begin to iron out the inconsistencies in their play. If they can do that at the Etihad Stadium today it could set them up for what lies ahead.

Manchester City have made progress this season as a team. But it is now time for them to begin to go through the gears to show that they can be a real threat for the Premier League title this season. An emphatic performance against Sunderland today can lay the platform for Pep Guardiola’s side to begin to go up a level.