Pep Guardiola has signalled that Manchester City are trending in the right direction and that their rivals should take notice. He suggested the group are showing characteristics from the clubs’ past title-winning campaigns and that this time of year often sparks one of City’s trademark unbeaten runs.

Arsenal have been reeled in by City in two of the past three seasons, and Guardiola is clearly optimistic about repeating that influence. “I have the feeling that we are getting better,” Guardiola smiled after Saturday’s win. “You believe that the past was always perfect when you look back at all the titles and the 100 points. But for the amount of things we achieved, we had a lot of games like today and the resilience was part of that.”

City began the season with a 4–0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers, but then lost their next two matches. After the struggles of the 2024–25 season, when Guardiola’s side finished a distant third behind Arsenal and champions Liverpool, many had doubted the club’s prospects. “Still, we are not top, but we are learning and after what happened we will be closer in the future,” Guardiola warned.

On the field, Erling Haaland remains central to City’s surge. He scored twice against Palace, taking his league tally to 17 after 16 matches. Phil Foden has also regained form, equalling his top-flight goal tally from last term with a seventh Premier League strike, a drive from outside the box against Palace.

Guardiola addressed Foden’s drop last season and placed it in a wider context. “The problem last season was not Phil; it was for everyone, me included,” he explained. On expectations for the attacker, he was unequivocal: “Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely [there is more to come from him],” the Catalan coach promised.

Guardiola added that while Foden’s natural quality is already exceptional, there is still room in areas such as timing and tempo. “He will not improve his incredible quality, because he’s top, at the top. But understanding the game, the way you have certain moments, the way you have to play, and the way you have to accelerate, or sometimes decelerate the game.

“Just the timing, the tempo he will give it, of course, everyone has to improve, everyone.”

Erling Haaland used a lighthearted interview appearance to poke fun at Jamie Carragher after his match-winning night at the Santiago Bernabéu. Fresh from converting the decisive penalty that sealed a 2–1 victory for Manchester City against Real Madrid, Haaland was asked about the studio mood and took aim at Carragher’s recent on-air exchange involving Mohamed Salah.

Haaland was beamed into the CBS Sports studio and, with a smile, said: “Oh, I’m getting nervous now when I see Jamie Carragher in the studio…” Carragher responded loudly from the set: “You don’t need to be nervous, Erling. Don’t be nervous.” The banter continued when Micah Richards intervened to ask: “Haaland, who do you prefer? [Antonio] Rüdiger or Carragher?”

Haaland reacted with a vocal exhale before answering. “Oof,” City ’s No. 9 said with an exhale of breathe. “I think I need to say Rüdiger now because Carragher is a bit [of a] loose cannon now, so we need to be careful…” Laughter in the studio overtook the final part of his explanation.

The striker’s jocular tone was echoed elsewhere on the night. Speaking to TNT Sports from the pitchside, Haaland reflected on the physical side of the contest, referring to Real Madrid’s defenders. “You could see after one minute Asencio was starting to push me and try to beef with me a lot,” he said, and added: “It’s something I like, personally, I don’t mind it.”

Haaland’s comments arrived after a sequence in which he won the penalty following a tug by Antonio Rüdiger and then calmly converted from the spot to secure the win. The exchanges in the studio and on the touchline underlined Haaland’s relaxed mood after a defining moment at the Bernabéu and produced a rare clip of good-natured ribbing between a player and a well-known pundit.

Pep Guardiola’s warm appraisal of Rodrygo after a recent match has renewed speculation about the Brazil international’s future. Guardiola spoke with Rodrygo after the game and made his admiration clear: “I told Rodrygo how good he is,” the City boss revealed. “He’s a player of another level… this guy is a player on another level. I’m glad he’s back from injury. He’s very, very good.”

The remarks came after a display that represented one of Rodrygo’s best nights in months. Deployed on his unfavored right wing, he opened the scoring with a crisp swipe into the bottom corner to end a record-breaking eight-month goal drought. He also created the game’s most chances — five in total, all of which were squandered — and won the most free kicks. Despite those contributions, and his own admission that “it wasn’t enough” to avoid defeat, Madrid fell 2–1.

Guardiola’s praise will inevitably stir headlines because City have long felt the sting of Rodrygo’s interventions. He scored twice in the final minutes of the 2022 Champions League semifinal to drag Real Madrid back into contention, and he found the net in both legs of the 2024 quarterfinal. That history, combined with summer reports that City were among suitors when his future at Madrid looked uncertain, means any public endorsement from Guardiola is likely to be noticed.

Rodrygo himself has sought to focus on his club responsibilities. Having struggled for a starting berth this term, he pledged to knuckle down under Alonso and made a point of celebrating his goal with the manager. “I liked his performance,” Alonso said of Rodrygo. “The goal was a consequence of other things he did well. It’s one of today’s good pieces of news to see him with that individual quality, that flair, and he also scored, which was important for him. ]

The combination of a decisive individual performance, a high-profile admirer, and a recent transfer backdrop ensures the conversation around Rodrygo’s next steps will continue. For now, the immediate focus remains on his form and fitness.