Pep Guardiola has trophy belief about 'extraordinary' Man City

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is content going into Sunday's Carabao Cup final with Arsenal

Pep Guardiola doesn't need Manchester City to win a trophy this season to be convinced they will be even better next year. The Blues take on Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday and are still in the two other domestic competitions, fuelling the City manager's belief that they are close to rising again.

City have hit historic heights before under Guardiola, from the Centurions season to the domestic clean sweep in 2018 and 2019 and then the Treble in 2023 followed up by a fourth consecutive league title. But last season saw a dip, prompting major changes in the squad and £440m spent in the last three transfer windows to build a new side capable of challenging again.

There have been signs in recent weeks that the work is not finished, with disappointment in the Champions League defeat to Real and frustrating draws with Nottingham Forest and West Ham allowing Arsenal to stretch their lead in the Premier League. Given where they were a year ago though, Guardiola will be satisfied even if the Gunners leave City without any silverware this year.

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"Last season, we arrived in the final of the FA Cup against Crystal Palace, we played really well, there were many things behind the scenes we could not control and the season was not good. Even if we had won against Crystal Palace, the season had not been good," he said.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but this season has been more than decent. If you decide it for the titles, obviously we need it but last season we won the Community Shield and were in the final of the FA Cup but were not good for two or three months and many things happened that was not what a team should be. This season, most of the time we have been a team that is not perfect but is good."

City are no longer the mentality monsters they once were capable of putting together unstoppable winning runs, and their inconsistencies could cost them the league given Arsenal show little sign of wilting. However, their performances and results have still been among the best in England and Europe - and Guardiola is adamant he knows how to get even more out of them next year.

"I have the feeling that in many things it is just underneath. It will flourish. I have the feeling that it is close. In other things we need a little bit more time to realise and for the players to realise what we need to be strong teams in many departments but in most of the things we are close. In many things we are close," he said.

"It's as much for the quality of players that we have, the gap is a little that we are not close but in many aspects we are an extraordinary team. Otherwise we wouldn't be in the top eight of the Champions League, second in the Premier League, final of the Carabao Cup and quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

"We wouldn't be here after nine months. In the past, when we won a lot of times, I always knew what we need and next season for many things I think we need a little bit more time."