If ever there is a side that would defend the title and win it back to back since Alex Ferguson’s United, it would be this Manchester City team. With the squad they have now and with the wise ways of Pep Guardiola, the Cityzens’ chances of retaining the title are far from slim, but more alive than ever before.
Manchester City’s rivals and competition to their throne will most certainly be Liverpool. The Reds have been busy in the transfer market and have bought well, getting a definite answer to Liverpool fans prayers in the Goalkeeping department with Alisson Becker coupled with their strong attack
City lost to Liverpool after their unbeaten run came to an end in the 2nd half of the previous campaign, but City and their players insist Chelsea are their main concern. Be that as it may, City still have fierce rivals Manchester United to overcome as well as Unai Emery’s new look Arsenal side.
The squad
The season won’t be a walk in the park, but with the main addition of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester, Manchester City will look to burst forward and start the season off unbeaten for as long as possible. The League was almost said to be done by Christmas for City last season, but they will feel the pressure of their fellow clubs in the ‘Big 6’ bracket.
Having just overcome Chelsea in a 2-0 win at Wembley, Sergio Aguero hit a milestone as he scored his 200th and 201st goals for the sky blues, and he will be integral in Pep’s plans for the season ahead. John Stones will look to get back to the top form that got him noticed and bought by the defending champions from Everton, and Leroy Sane, having been left out of Germany’s squad, should be well rested and raring to go for the new start. Ederson will want to keep it up with his performances as goalkeeper and Silva will want to keep fit for his chance to make the difference for the club.
The season ahead
The upcoming season should prove to be electric as City start their defence against Arsenal. Immediately their defensive players such as Vincent Kompany, who is coming off a successful Belgium campaign at the World Cup, John Stones, Danilo, Nicolas Otamendi and Benjamin Mendy will be integral to holding off fierce attackers in the league.
Bernardo Silva will look to better his previous season which solid but not memorable, with Mahrez and Fernandinho strengthening that midfield area. Kevin de Bruyne was Manchester City’s glue last season and one of the best in Europe in the past season and he will continue to be influential with Ilkay Gündogan, Fabian Delph and David Silva in the center of the field.
Manchester City visiting Arsenal on match day one will be an opportunity to see how they’re going to go forward against big teams in big competitions this season. Their opening run doesn’t get easier as they host Huddersfield, who had a standout last season fending off relegation, before playing an ambitious Wolves side, followed by Newcastle and Fulham.
There are many points in it for their first five games, and if they can get off the right foot and beat Arsenal, they will reinstill the fear in every other team in not just England, but Europe as well..