This time last year, Liverpool were thrashing Tottenham to win the Premier League, with City 18 points behind during a season in which they failed to win a major trophy.
Guardiola pointed out his side did win the Community Shield but by his impeccable standards, the campaign had been a major disappointment.
City sealed qualification for the Champions League on the final day, which proved to be high point, as further dismay followed in the Club World Cup in the United States.
Established stars such as Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Jack Grealish and Ederson were allowed to leave in the summer, and there were questions marks over the rebuild with a cohort of younger players brought in.
Doubts only grew with a sticky start featuring two defeats in their opening three games this season, then starting 2026 with three consecutive draws, but the new blood appears to be flowing at the right time.
They got a taste of silverware by lifting the Carabao Cup and will be heavy favourites in the FA Cup final whether they face Chelsea or Leeds United, but regaining the Premier League may prove the toughest challenge.
City went top of the table on goals scored by edging to victory at Burnley on Wednesday but find themselves back in second and chasing Arsenal once more after the Gunners ground out a victory over Newcastle.
Guardiola has won six Premier League titles, five Carabao Cups and the FA Cup twice during his near-decade reign and remains in the hunt to land them all in a single season, as happened seven years ago.
The Spaniard said: “Six games – if we win we will be there, if we lose it is over. People ask to define [City], how many Champions Leagues? How many this and that? To define the club, five Carabao Cup [wins] and playing four FA Cup finals in a row.
“You can always have a bad afternoon, a bad day with injuries and you cannot be there. In the Premier League, always we were there. We are in the final again, we have time to prepare with our fans. Now it is easy because it has been a tough week mentally and physically.”
Former City defender Micah Richards said on One: “When it looked like Manchester City were down and out, they found it from somewhere and that is what champions do.
“I still see some frailties in City’s game on transitions, but at this moment in the season it is all about big moments, and they are taking the big moments.”
