Is Manchester City back to their best?

During Manchester City’s poor form and results at the end of 2024, Pep Guardiola often looked agitated and stressed.

But he looked much more relaxed after watching his side thrash struggling Ipswich 6-0 on Sunday. It was a performance that reminded why City have been the dominant team in English football in recent years.

Guardiola later told Sky Sports, “We are back to doing the things that have defined this team for the last 10 years.”

“I’m really happy for the players, they deserve it. They’ve gone through a lot during this time, but we’ve regained some of the identity we lost along the way.”

Just one league win in nine games during November and December was extremely damaging to City’s hopes of a fifth consecutive title as they now sit 12 points behind leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.

The top four is far more realistic and the goal boom at Ipswich helped them overtake Newcastle in fourth and finish six points behind second-placed Arsenal and Nottingham Forest.

However, Guardiola was happy to see signs from his old team as they took complete control against Town.

“(It was) much better,” he said. “Maybe not our best, but close.

“The players realized where we were, our standards were lacking because it’s not just about winning titles, it’s the joy of doing your best.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a big actor in London or a small theater in Sheffield – it doesn’t matter.

“I think the players have proven a lot of things and hopefully this can be the beginning of recognizing ourselves for who we were.”