PEP GUARDIOLA says heart-to-heart talks in Florida last summer ignited Manchester City’s title charge.
Guardiola knew things had to change after they finished 13 points behind champions Liverpool.
So the Spaniard got his backroom staff together in the US to plan City’s fightback when they crashed out of the Club World Cup.
And the Etihad giants are in the hunt for a SEVENTH crown in nine years, with Saturday’s win at Nottingham Forest keeping them two points off leaders Arsenal.
Boss Guardiola said: “When we went out to Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup, it wasn’t the fact that we didn’t win, but that we were so good there.
“At the place we were in, Boca Raton in front of the beach, everyone was happy.
“We had lots of talks about what we have to do next season. We wanted to extend it — just to live it.”
Guardiola had meetings with Pep Lijnders, James French and Manuel Estiarte, along with Hugo Viana and Txiki Begiristain — the incoming and outgoing directors of football.
Pep continued: “Then I said, ‘OK, go on holidays’, but I was p****d off as we were good there, good with the guys training, good with the competition.
“After talking with Pep and James, Manuel, Hugo, Txiki, we said, ‘Something has changed’.
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“It doesn’t mean you’ll win — but you’re able to recognise the team.”
Their 2-1 triumph at the City Ground was a sixth straight Prem win and EIGHTH on the bounce in all competitions.
Having finished third last term behind Liverpool and Arsenal, Guardiola’s side are once again right back in title contention.
Guardiola feels City have their “energy” back, saying: “We started to train better, compete better.
“Energy, energy, energy. We lost it last season.
“We can talk about three at the back, four at the back, wingers or full-backs — it’s all bulls***.
“We just needed energy and then you have a good environment.”
City failed to win a trophy last term for the first time since Guardiola joined in 2016-2017.
Etihad chiefs brought in the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma and Forest matchwinners Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders.
City still lost two of their opening three league games. But Pep added: “We were still working out how to play the players in the best way.
“Managers are not magicians who click their fingers and then everything is clear.”
