Manchester City’s Halloween Party: A Reflection on Recovery and Leadership

Two days prior to their match against Bournemouth last Sunday, Manchester City hosted a Halloween party for players and their families. The venue was adorned with a cinema-style entrance, featuring walls decorated with “Wanted” and “Missing” posters of Pep Guardiola’s squad. Guests were welcomed by an old-school theater scene, complete with red velvet curtains and a marquee sign that read, “Now screening: I Know What You Did Last Season,” a playful nod to a slasher film.

The 2024-25 campaign has been challenging for City, marked by injuries and a notable decline in performance, contrasting sharply with their previous four consecutive Premier League titles. However, players and staff have begun to embrace humor about the situation, even as there remains a commitment to demonstrating their full recovery.

Guardiola has refrained from speculating about the team’s potential achievements this season. Early results have been mixed, including victories over Manchester United and Napoli, a commendable draw with Arsenal, but also defeats to Tottenham Hotspur, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Aston Villa. Despite these ups and downs, City currently occupies second place in the league, ahead of the upcoming match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium—a game that could clarify their standing as title contenders or reveal ongoing rebuilding efforts.

To regain momentum, Guardiola has adopted a novel approach. He made the unusual decision to cancel training the day before the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, granting players a day off. This decision came after Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga fixture against Augsburg was rescheduled to allow them ample rest before their visit to the Etihad, while City had to face Bournemouth shortly before. Guardiola hopes this move, which required special approval from UEFA, sends a message to the fixture schedulers. The additional rest proved beneficial as City secured a 4-1 victory over Dortmund, advancing to fourth in the Champions League table.

Off the pitch, significant changes have occurred, with the squad losing over 1,500 games’ worth of experience due to the departures of Éderson, Kyle Walker, Ilkay Gündogan, and Kevin De Bruyne. Defender Josko Gvardiol acknowledged the noticeable absence of these key players, noting, “You can feel it. A lot of guys are not here anymore, but this is football. One day you are here, maybe the next day you are somewhere else, and we need to accept it.”

In response, Guardiola has taken a more hands-on approach in the dressing room, personally selecting his captains for the first time in his managerial career, shifting away from player voting after identifying a lack of unity as a contributing factor to last season’s struggles. Organizing a Halloween party, while seemingly trivial, serves as an important aspect of rebuilding team morale. Guardiola has been attentive to the squad’s spirit and togetherness, emphasizing the importance of body language during training and matches.

The void left by prominent personalities has allowed others to step up, with Bernardo Silva leading the new leadership group alongside Dias, Rodri, and Erling Haaland. While the selection of experienced players like Bernardo, Dias, and Rodri was expected, Haaland’s inclusion was surprising. Guardiola later referred to this decision as possibly his “best decision yet,” as Haaland has excelled on the pitch with 18 goals while also taking on more off-field responsibilities, such as volunteering for media duties ahead of the Dortmund match.

Reflecting on last season’s disappointment, Haaland expressed the team’s recognition of the need for improvement, stating, “Of course, it is not nice to lose games… we all know we need to do better, be more stable and perform when it matters.”

City’s struggles last season included losses to Liverpool, notably in both encounters that marked key moments in their title race. However, amidst the tumult, Guardiola’s commitment to the club remains unwavering, having signed a contract extension until summer 2027. In his tenth season, questions surrounding his energy and drive persist, but Gvardiol remains confident, asserting, “He’s still the one who wants to push us… when you see the manager is full of enthusiasm, then we are ready to fight as well.”

As City prepares to face Liverpool, the atmosphere is decidedly more optimistic. Guardiola expressed excitement for the upcoming match, stating his anticipation: “I’m looking forward desperately to play on Sunday again, against Liverpool, and we’ll see what happens.” This match presents another opportunity for Guardiola and his squad to demonstrate that last season’s challenges are firmly behind them.