Photo: Don Mac Gregor / Prost Amerika
Manchester City were one of the standout favourites to win the Premier League last season, but the manner they went about doing it was something few would have predicted.
Listing off the records they broke and praising their form from all of last season could be a feature in all of its own, but one thing is for certain, City will be aiming to better their achievements that they accomplished last season when they procured 100 points scoring 106 goals.
Summer transfers
Riyad Mahrez joined City for a club record £60 million.
Photo: Don Mac Gregor / Prost Amerika
Man City are a side that always steal the show in the transfer window with big-money signings from overseas leagues always a common occurrence for the Citizens, but this window has been a little bit different for Pep Guardiola’s side.
Only two players have been brought in to add to City’s already world class side in the form of Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, who finally got his move away from the Foxes in a deal worth a reported £60 million, and 21-year-old Dutch defender Philippe Sandler who signed from PEC Zwolle.
Whilst Sandler is more a signing for the future, the main attraction this summer is of course Mahrez. Winner of the PFA Player of the Year award in the 2015/16 season, the Algerian has blossomed into one of the best wingers in the Premier League and more than adds to City’s firepower and creative prowess in the side.
Whether he will start or not is another question.
Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane both played on either wing for City last season to incredible results. Sterling was easily the best English player in the league last season as he flourished in Guardiola’s system, and Sane was voted PFA Young Player of the Year following his second season in English football.
As for departures, City only saw one notable sale this summer as England youth goalkeeper Angus Gunn left Manchester for Southampton in a reported deal for £10 million.
Pre-season form
The Premier League champions played a variety of opponents when in the States.
With the majority of City’s first team players on World Cup leave, Guardiola’s squad for the USA pre-season tour was more on the inexperienced side. Promising youngsters like Phil Foden, Patrick Roberts, and Jack Harrison were some of the players that stood out whilst in the States, whilst the aforementioned Mahrez also got a chance to shine for his new side.
A convincing Community Shield win against Chelsea in the annual Premier League warm-up more than confirmed City’s status as the team to beat this season.
What to expect this season
Anything short of Manchester City retaining the Premier League will be seen as a failure by the club and their fans. Guardiola has transformed City into one of the top three sides in Europe, and their goal for this season will be to not only win the league again but to at least reach the final in the Champions League.
City were torn apart by Liverpool in Europe 5-1 on aggregate last season as Jürgen Klopp’s side became the first English club to make the Champions League final since 2012, and Guardiola will be determined to make this one of the top priorities for the blue side of Manchester this season.
With added depth on the wings in Mahrez and a squad already oozing with talent and experience, Manchester City are easily the favourites, again, to win the Premier League season. Whether they top their historic records from last season remains to be seen.
