WE NEEDED SOME TIME IN THE SUNSHINNNE

How Florida got Pep's rock 'n' roll stars back on song

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PEP GUARDIOLA believes three weeks in sunny Florida was the catalyst for Manchester City's resurgent form this season.

Saturday's win at Nottingham Forest - thanks to goals from Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki, either side of an Omari Hutchinson equaliser - means the Blues sit second in the Premier League heading into 2026.

That is five places higher than they were at this stage last year as a new-look City side make their mark in three competitions.

City knew they needed to reinvigorate an ageing squad back in January and spent £175million in the winter transfer window.

With Champions League football secured, work was done quickly in the summer to ensure that the bulk of their signings could travel with the squad to the Club World Cup in June.

It was there that Guardiola believes the magic happened as a 'fog' that had been surrounding them in Manchester for months lifted and a new energy was forged among his squad.