Thu Jan 01 19:30:00 UTC 2026: Here’s a news article summarizing the text:

Manchester City Manager Guardiola Praises Team’s Stellar Turnaround; Warns Rivals of Further Improvement

Sunderland, UK – January 1, 2026 – Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lauded his team’s impressive resurgence over the past year, declaring them the Premier League’s top performers in 2025 and issuing a warning to rivals that they are poised to become even stronger with the return of key midfielder Rodri.

Despite ending the previous season without a trophy, City boasts the best points-per-game ratio in the Premier League for 2025, narrowly edging out Arsenal. Guardiola credited the team’s resilience in overcoming challenges as key to their success. “At the end of last season…arguably one of the best that we had as a team,” Guardiola stated, emphasizing how the team handled difficult situations.

Guardiola also highlighted the significant impact of January signings, stating that without them, they “would have been playing in the Conference [League].” He emphasized the team lacked depth for an extended period before the new additions and returning players helped propel them to the top of the Premier League in the latter part of the season.

Rodri, who struggled with injuries throughout 2025, is now fit and available. His absence due to a cruciate ligament injury sustained in September 2024 significantly impacted City’s form. Guardiola acknowledged Rodri’s importance to the team, stating, “With Rodri we are a stronger team. There’s no doubt about that.”

While the winter transfer window is expected to be relatively quiet, City are reportedly close to securing a deal for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo. The player is eager to join City, despite interest from other clubs. His ability to create opportunities, particularly through long throws, is an attribute Guardiola has identified as currently lacking in his squad.

City currently sit five points behind league leaders Arsenal with a game in hand, a significant improvement from being 14 points adrift at the same stage last year.

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