Guardiola says Man. City must show 'spirit' to get back on top next season

Pep Guardiola has vowed Manchester City will be back to their best next season after losing their 'spirit' during a turbulent campaign that exposed an unexpected lack of hunger in his side.

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Currently third in the Premier League, City -- who had won the previous four English titles -- want to salvage a dismal year by winning the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish.

Guardiola's side face Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup semi-finals on Sunday knowing defeat at Wembley would condemn them to finish without a major trophy for the first time since 2016-17.

But Guardiola is already thinking about how to avoid a repeat of City's stunning struggles and he believes he has found the solution.

The City boss noticed the passion his players celebrated with after Bernardo Silva put them ahead in a crucial 2-1 win against top-five rivals Aston Villa on Tuesday.

It was a display of unity that Guardiola didn't see earlier in the season, when he felt City took success for granted after winning six of the last seven Premier League titles.