Premier League team introductions: Manchester City looking for an even more successful season

That they had a successful season? Oh, come on! You’d be kicked out of the door at the Etihad Stadium with that. After all, the assault on the quadruple was “only” a domestic title and the League Cup. This year, Guardiola and co. want to go even further. He certainly has the ambition and the team to do it.

Together with Chelsea, the Citizens had the most ever representatives at the Euros, with fifteen. In addition, they sent Ederson and Gabriel Jesus to kick the Copa América for Brazil.

That’s why in Saturday’s Community Shield clash, which was the first competitive match of the new season, the squad, the game concept and the result did not look idyllic.

To recap: the Light Blues lost 0:1 to Leicester City with a considerably weakened squad, supplemented by a few youngsters who had spent the summer training with the team.

Although the disappointment was justified, not least because Iheanacho scored the decisive goal from a penalty in the 89th minute in front of 45,000 people at Wembley, it says little about the readiness of Fernandinho and co. for the season.

When the entire squad consolidates over the next few days, maybe a few weeks, nothing but a proper roll can be expected. If only because last year’s winning team has seen minimal changes.

In fact, only two players have left (both to Barcelona), but both Eric García and Sergio Agüero played very little under Pep Guardiola in the previous season anyway, before their departure was noticeable in any major way on the team’s play.

The new signings, on the other hand, should be noticeable. Big things are expected from Jack Grealish, who as you well know has become the most expensive player in English football, and it is only a matter of where Pep Guardiola will find a place for him in the line-up. He has more than enough options.

The other big, but still very uncertain, signing could be Tottenham’s current sharpshooter Harry Kane. His arrival is quite important for the Citizens, because after the departure of Agüero, the team is missing a second born spike striker to Gabriel Jesus.

If the 28-year-old Englishman could indeed be brought in, it would mean another pip on the summer list of the Citizens management, who despite bringing in only one player so far, are doing a great job.

In fact, he has taken care of contract extensions for key players and that is very important for Guardiola and co. For example, Fernandinho has already signed a new contract, John Stones has just signed, and goalkeeper Ederson is about to sign as well.

Thanks to this, Manchester City can expect even more success this year than last year. A fifth League Cup in a row? Sure thing! Add to that the FA Cup after three years? Why not. Defend the Premier League title and win a fourth league title in five seasons? That’s going to be a hell of a job.

How about finally winning the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history? Yes! That’s a hefty target, and once achieved, they could only be talking about a truly successful season at the Etihad Stadium. Especially if they manage to add to last year’s success and add three trophies to the showcase.

They certainly have the quality and ambition to do so.

Source:: Goal.com, The Athletics, Transfermarkt