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The 2018 World Cup has come to a glorious end and pre-season games are already underway. And it's that time of the year again as Premier League action beckons. 20 clubs in England's top-flight will be at loggerheads with each other in a ten-month long ordeal for the title.
Manchester City won the Premier League quite convincingly last term and will bid to defend what's rightfully theirs once the 2018/19 season kicks off next month. Pep Guardiola's men took to a free-flowing and easy on the eye football that led to many believe City were one of the best sides to have graced the Premier League era.
However, one thing that should perhaps worry the City boss is the fact that no club has won the league two seasons running since Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United in 2009.
So, do the Blues have it in them to go all out once again?
Can this City side defend the title?
While we wait till the end of the season for the answer, let's take a look at three reasons why they can.
#3 Formidable bench strength
In all likelihood, Manchester City’s first eleven will pretty much remain the same as last season, barring injuries and suspensions. While Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones would form the centre of the defence, Kyle Walker is expected to cover the right side, having impressed with his pace and marauding runs last season. Benjamin Mendy who is fresh from a World Cup winning campaign with France, will most certainly complete the back-four.
The formidable trio comprising of David Silva, Fernandinho and Kevin De Bruyne would man the midfield, while Sane, Aguero and Sterling would be hoping to repeat their exploits up front.
Pep Guardiola would like these eleven stay fit for most of the season, however, he has a number of options in the squad who can prove just as effective as these players if need be. Aymeric Laporte is a handy alternative at centre-back and captain Vincent Komapany can bring more physicality to the back-line. Brazilian right-back Danilo can lessen Walker’s workload, while Fabian Delph is a more than able deputy to Mendy at the left.
Now, coming to the midfield department, the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernado Silva will be itching to prove their mettle, having played as substitutes for the majority of last season. And then there are youngsters like Phil Foden and Brahim Diaz to turn to if the situation demands.
The signing of Riyad Mahrez means they would be less dependent on their front three to deliver the goals.
It’s fair to say that City have all bases covered and hence Guardiola doesn’t have to worry too much in this regard.
#2 Young Bloods
Age might be just a number for cricketers; Football, barring a few extraordinary players, largely remains a youngster’s game. How else would you explain Pep Guardiola’s clean-up act at Manchester City prior to the last season? Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Bacary Sagna, Aleksandar Kolarov and Willy Caballero were all on the wrong side of thirty and hence didn't fit into Pep's plans.
The City boss replaced the old legs with younger ones as defenders Benjamin Mendy (23), Kyle Walker (27), and Danilo (26) came in along with goalkeeper Ederson (23) and midfielder Bernado Silva (22). As a result, what was one of the oldest squads the previous year, suddenly looked an invigorating force with an average age of 25 years. And the rest, as they say, is history. The energy was evident almost instantly as they blitzed past sides at will to win the Premier League with a 19-point gap to second-placed Manchester United.
City have the blueprint now. It’s fair to say that Guardiola’s exciting squad will be brimming with confidence after a record-breaking season and there are no reasons to believe why they can’t replicate last season’s heroics this time around.
#3 Pep Guardiola's penchant for trophies
There are those who win titles and then there is Pep Guardiola. He doesn't just wins titles but wins them in succession. A brief look into the Spaniard's managerial career would tell you, his third season at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich have been title-winning ones.
In 2010/11, Guardiola was able to put together a team which is widely regarded as one of the best in soccer history. Barcelona only lost five of their 60 games in all competitions that season, winning the Champions League and La Liga in the process. Many are of the opinion that David Silva, Kevin de Bruyne and Fernandinho are of the exact same character as Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets and therefore sustained success in England could be vey much on the cards.
His third season at Bayern Munich was no different either as the German club bagged the domestic double under him in 2015/16.
All these past achievements of the Catalan perhaps gives a pointer as to why City could be a serious contender for the Premier League title this term as well.
