Following their only signing of the summer being the arrival of Riyad Mahrez, Man City and their fans will now be turning their heads to their season opener against Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
Having won the league by a record-breaking 19 points last season, Pep Guardiola’s side have only strengthened their squad this time round as they look to become the first team since United in 2009 to win back-to-back Premier League titles.
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It’s to take an absolutely mammoth effort for the Citizens to top the campaign they had last year, however if last season told us anything, it’s that this City team are something special, and capable of almost anything.
So, we’ve picked out a few key aspects of City’s side for our 2018/19 season preview. Enjoy.
Manager Situation
It’s fair to see Pep Guardiola isn’t really under any pressure at the Etihad last season following his side’s rampant campaign last year.
The Spaniard oversaw his side break a whole host of records on the way to them claiming the first ever 100-point Premier League season.
However, following his track record at previous clubs, we may see Guardiola’s reign at the Etihad come to an end sooner rather than later.
Pep’s longest stint at a single club was his four-year reign as Barcelona manager, and his time with Bayern Munich only saw the 47-year-old stay for three seasons before departing for Manchester.
Some may see this as a sign that Guardiola could be set to leave City at the end of this season, and if that’s the case, he’ll surely want to go out with a bang and truly leave his mark on the Premier League.
Many have described the Spaniard as one of the best managers on the planet, something that will definitely be reaffirmed this season should he lead City to their fourth Premier League title since 2012.
Transfers
City only completed one major signing this summer, the arrival of Riyad Mahrez from Leicester, however it’s not as if the club needed to splash the cash like they did last summer seeing as they have one of the best and brightest squads in the league.
Having spent a fortune to bring in stars like Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Gabriel Jesus and Bernardo Silva in 2017, City look absolutely set for years and years to come, which is more than likely why they only felt the need to splash out for one player this summer window.
The Algerian showed during his time with Leicester in their 2015/16 title-winning campaign that he has what it takes to drag his team to victory, something the club may need to rely on him to do against some of the more tougher opponents this season.
It’s hard to say that City should’ve bought more this summer given how good and deep their squad already is, so it looks as if their choice to partake in minimal transfer activity looks to be a smart one this time round.
MVP
With Bernardo Silva playing an absolute blinder against Chelsea in the Community Shield last Sunday, the Portuguese star looked perfectly capable of taking a commanding role in a City team that contained a fair few inexperienced heads.
The former Monaco star made the most appearances for City in all competitions last season, something that shows just how important he was for them then, and important he could be for them this year.
The 23-year-old has pace, fantastic dribbling ability, keen eye for a pass and all of the finishing prowess he needs in order to play a key role for City this year, something we may very well see him do given the fact that David Silva is fast approaching the twilight years of his career.
Rising Star
Having made one of his first professional starts for the club in City’s 2-0 win over Chelsea at Wembley last Sunday, Phil Foden definitely looks the part despite being just 18 years old.
The English midfielder always looked calm on the ball, and it seemed as if he’d be playing Guardiola’s brand of football his entire life, a great compliment for a player who’s still a teenager.
With Man City not having any serious cover for Fernandinho this season, it seems as if Foden may be used on a more consistent basis by Guardiola this year, as the club look to challenge on all fronts.
Reasons to be positive
Life is pretty good for Man City fans at the moment, especially after their dominant campaign last year.
With rivals like Arsenal and Chelsea bringing in brand new managers, and with Spurs and Man United failing to do serious work in the transfer market this summer, it seems as if City may only have one serious challenger in Liverpool this campaign.
The Reds proved to be a bit of a bogey team for the Citizens last season, with Jurgen Klopp’s side beating City in three of the four times they faced each other.
However, should they capitalise on Liverpool dropping points this season, City should have what it takes to go all the way and see the Premier League title remain at the Etihad come May.
Causes for concern
City, at the moment, have one of the best squads and managers in world football, something that is definitely going to fill their fans with confidence this year.
There aren’t many things that could be a worry for City fans, as last year the club showed they were immune to complacency, as they often wiped the floor with their opposition, even when the Premier League title was firmly in the bag.
One thing that could prove to be a bit of dilemma is the lack of quality cover for Fernandinho.
With the Brazilian now 33, it remains to be seen whether he can manage playing all, if not most, of a 38-game season for the club.
And seeing as the midfielder is a key part of their side, City may struggle in games when they are being forced to rest the Brazilian international, something that could see them drop points and allow their rivals a bigger chance in the title race.
Kits
With Man City going for a rather safe home kit choice for this season, the club’s away kit is really where it’s at this time round.
The Citizens are going to be rocking a cool, black, blue and green number for their away trips this season, a strip that we’re sure is going to become a fan favourite with the majority of their supporters.
If we were advising any City fans on what kit to buy this season, their away number is insanely stylish, and definitely one of the most impressive in the league this year.