The dust has finally settled on a turbulent 2025/26 Premier League season, and both sides of Manchester are taking stock. It was a campaign that delivered more questions than answers for the city's two giants — and yet, as the summer begins, the mood in each half of the city could hardly be more different.
At Old Trafford, there is cautious optimism. Under the steady stewardship of Michael Carrick, Manchester United have quietly and methodically rebuilt their foundations — finishing third in the Premier League table and securing a return to UEFA Champions League football. It is the kind of progress that demands recognition, and Carrick is emerging as one of the more quietly impressive managerial stories in English football.
Across the city, however, a seismic chapter has come to a close. Pep Guardiola has confirmed his departure from Manchester City, ending a remarkable ten-year reign at the Etihad Stadium.
Former City assistant Enzo Maresca is reported to be lined up as his successor.
In the two videos below, both clubs look back on the season just ended and offer an outlook on what lies ahead. Two clubs, two very different stories — and one shared determination to write a better one next year.
Manchester United's Omar Berrada
Manchester City's Khaldoon Al Mubarak
Source: Ballocentre.com
Images: Getty, Manchester United FC, Manchester City FC
