Pep Guardiola’s side lost out on a fifth straight Premier League title to Liverpool and didn’t win a major trophy for the first time in eight years, but the former City winger felt there was too much “pressure” on the squad to “keep fit and perform”.

He told FourFourTwo magazine: “It was the season that a lot of people might have expected after the Treble in 2023, but that drop-off was delayed.

“The physical and mental strength it takes to keep winning titles, year in, year out, takes its toll.

“They opted to sign only Savinho and Ilkay Gundogan last summer, which put extra pressure on the existing squad to keep fit and perform.

“You could see the physical side of that imbalance with Rodri, who got injured in September after winning the Euros with Spain.”

But after bringing in some new faces as Pep Lijnders as assistant manager, Shaun thinks his old club will be returning “to dominance” in the season ahead.

He said: “City are in a great position to kick on.

“It won’t be easy for any side, you never get an easy game in this league, but I’m backing City to return to dominance.”