Pep Guardiola insists he is not the 'magician' who removed the 'fog' over Manchester City after last season's slump

The "fog" that surrounded the Etihad Stadium may have disappeared, but it is not the sle reason that Pep Guardiola's Manchester City are back in top form this season.

A third place finish last season was not the ideal ending for Guardiola's playing group, having entered the season with four consecutive titles in the Premier League.

It was the first time since 2017 that City had not collected a major trophy and the first time it had happened under Guardiola's leadership.

READ MORE: 'Absolutely awful': Kyrgios-Sabalenka clash cops heavy criticism

READ MORE: Thorpe lifts the lid on 'really hectic' Sydney Hobart race

READ MORE: KP puts heat on Test cricket 'powerhouses' in grim verdict

Even though a third place finish did not satisfy Guardiola, nor did the fact Erling Haaland had a "bad season" yet still scored the third most goals of any player in the league, the mindset of City has remained the same.

A 2-1 win against Nottingham Forest only narrowed the margin to the table leaders Arsenal, marking the side's eighth straight win across all competitions.

The club's next match will only put their strength to the test even more as they prepare to host a third-placed Aston Villa, who are just one point behind City on the table.

It is a vastly different story to the one that surrounded the team two months ago, where they had suffered five straight defeats and bowed out of the Champions League.

But Guardiola refuses to accept suggestions he is the reason for the team's turnaround.

"Managers are not magicians, decide what we do, click your fingers and everything is clear," he said.

"Sometimes you need time. Last season, how many times did you see me here judging and criticising the club?

"I could, I have big numbers in my career as a manager. How many [times]? Never, ever.

Football's new home, Stan Sport, is the only place to watch the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, WSL, European World Cup qualifiers, J.League, NSWL and K League

"It's not about you or you or you, it was something ... something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding out training centre. We missed something.

"Sometimes you need time. Winning helps to advance this process."

The off-season that followed last year's result saw several transformations unfold at the club, including Guardiola reshaping his coaching staff entirely.

One of those that joined the team was Jurgen Klopp's former assistant Pep Lijnders, while former club defender Kolo Toure stepped up with James French as coaching aids.

Then at the Club World Cup, despite bowing out in the round of 16, it became clear to Guardiola his team were happier with their form than they had been.

"When we went out to Al Hilal, it wasn't the fact we didn't win but that we were so good there," the 54-year-old continued.

"It was then holidays so I said, 'OK, go on holidays' but I was annoyed because we were good there, good with the guys training, good with the competition.

"The place we were in, Boca Raton in front of the beach, everyone was happy. We made a lot of dinners, a lot of talks [about] what we have to do next season. What we have to do. We wanted to extend it, just to live that.

"After talking with Pep [Lijnders], James [French], Manel [Estiarte], Hugo [Viana], Txiki [Begiristain], we turned around and said something changed.

"Energy, energy, energy. We lost it last season.

"We started to train better, compete better. It didn't mean we were going to win but that you are able to recognise the team. Now it is eight victories in a row. It is not easy but compete in a way we do. We have to improve, absolutely, but this mindset is better.

"After that we can talk about three at the back, four at the back, wingers or full-backs – that is all bullshit. We needed to get energy back, and then you have a good environment."