Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has attributed his team’s improved form this season to a shift in mentality and a renewed sense of energy, after admitting that something felt lacking around the club during the previous campaign.

As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Guardiola, speaking ahead of City’s New Year’s Day away fixture against Sunderland, looked back on last season and dismissed the notion that managers are capable of fixing issues overnight.

He explained that despite the success he has achieved in his managerial career, he has never publicly blamed his club, even during periods of poor form.

“Managers are not magicians. Sometimes you need time. Last season, something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre. We missed something.

“I could, I have big numbers in my career as a manager. How many [times]? Never, ever. It’s not about you or you or you, it was something… something was in the fog in Manchester, surrounding our training centre. We missed something,” he said.

Guardiola further reflected on a turning point during their trip involving Al Hilal, stressing that the performance, rather than the result, stood out to him.

He added, “When we went out to Al Hilal, it wasn’t the fact we didn’t win but that we were so good there. 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.

“Energy, energy, energy. We lost it last season. We started to train better, compete better.

“It doesn’t mean you are 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 we compete in a way we do. We have to improve, absolutely, but this mindset is better.”