The 2026/27 English football season was always going to look and feel different for Manchester City, following the departure of longtime manager Pep Guardiola.
Yet the early signs suggest success doesn’t have to look a certain way or fit a certain mould. It can also mean rolling with the punches, adapting, learning and continuing to compete.
And while football and business may seem worlds apart, there is actually a lot we can learn from how a top team like City is responding to change, challenges and opportunities.
Here, then, are five lessons from the Manchester City new season in the words of QNET that entrepreneurs can apply to their businesses.
Here are 5 Lessons from the Manchester City New Season
1. Start with a New Target
The 2025/2026 season saw the Club win the Carabao Cup and FA Cup. The Women’s team had the most successful season in their history, clincing the Women’s Super League title,the first time in a decade, and the FA Cup. As well as this, the Under-18s secured a historic FA Youth Cup. A with domestic success, the 2026/27 season has started with a similar ambition and see’s the men’s and women’s first teams sitting on top of their respective leagues with the same target for winning.
Of course, having a target doesn’t guarantee the club will win. But in football, as in business and life, a target provides direction, helps you know where you want to go, and allows you to measure progress.
For those of us in direct selling, it might be useful to ask: what do I want to achieve, and what will it take to get there?
2. Be Ready to Adapt
Change is inevitable. And for Man City, this has meant starting the new season not only without their accomplished former boss Guardiola, but also through changes to their playing squad.
Yet, new manager Enzo Maresca is not only familiar with the club’s philosophy, having previously worked under Pep at City; he has also brought fresh ideas. Part of this has involved introducing a young, dynamic midfield featuring Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and World Cup winner Enzo Fernández, all of which have started the season positively.
For QNET – the lesson for entrepreneurs is that adaptability doesn’t have to mean starting from scratch. Rather, it’s knowing when and how to pivot, while remaining true to your principles.
3. Master the Basics
Yes, it’s only just begun. But the opening form of City’s men’s and women’s team have been nothing short of impressive. Even so, when QNET break down both teams’ performances, it’s easy to see that the one thing the Cityzens do better than many of their rivals is getting the fundamentals right.
For Enzo Maresca and women’s team manager Andrée Jeglertz, this means mastering fundamentals like passing and ball recovery, while for a superstar like Erling Haaland it’s all about ensuring he’s in the right place to score.
The message here is straightforward: whether you’re building a business or trying to win a football match, understanding and mastering the basics provides a strong foundation for success.
4. Take Your Opportunity When It Comes
A new season can provide occasions for players to step up. And this season, it’s been Rayan Cherki who provides the clearest example.
Left out of the starting line-up in City’s opening match against Bournemouth, the French attacker was quick to make an impact as soon as he was brought on, late in the second half. A week later, against Crystal Palace, he got the chance to start the match and grabbed the opportunity, scoring two goals in the process.
The lesson for entrepreneurs is always to be ready to step up when an opportunity comes your way.
5. Stay Focused and Disregard the Noise
Leaders in every field operate under intense scrutiny. , A team like City not only has to contend with commentary over results, players, and managers, but also with constant speculation and outside noise. The ability to stay focused amid the noise, however, is key to success.
The challenge for the club this season, therefore, is to give it all on the pitch, without getting distracted by everything else going on around it.
This is the same principle direct sellers ought to employ in business. Yes, there may be setbacks and criticism, even missteps. However, there’s little value in dwelling on problems that can’t be solved when you have a business to run, a team to lead, and customers to serve.
QNETCity: A Partnership Built on Shared Values
Since 2014, QNET and Man City have forged a partnership built on commitment, focus, teamwork and resilience. And more than a decade on, these values remain relevant not only to the two organisations, but also to every individual who’s striving to build something of their own.
Indeed, that shared outlook is also typified in the QNETCity Conquer Series of timepieces, crafted in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker CIMIER as a testament to both precision and the ongoing pursuit of excellence.
Essentially, it reflects the idea that success has no limits, and no matter how much one achieves, competing at the highest-level means that there will always be more to play for, more challenges to navigate, more lessons to learn, and more peaks to scale.
Yes, the season may be new. But the values that have underpinned Man City’s success remain the same.
