'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Manchester City started their Premier League campaign on a winning note with a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in their first game of the season. The Citizens showed why they were one of the best side’s last season by winning their second match against Huddersfield Town 6-1 last weekend. Manchester City is sitting 3rd in the points table, but Pep Guardiola had stated that his side would try to replicate the performances of the previous season as the 2018-19 season progresses.
Manchester City won their fourth game of the season against Newcastle United yesterday with a 2-1 scoreline. The Etihad outfit received a big boost this season as they bought former Leicester City player Rayed Mahrez, who was a key figure along with Jamie Vardy in the 2015-16 Premier League season when the Foxes won the Premier League title.
Mahrez's inclusion will make Manchester City’s midfield much more robust. Manchester City enjoyed a great run in the 2017-18 Premier League season winning the title with ease. Pep Guardiola’s side produced some dominating performances in the entire season with their attacking style of play and collected 100 points in the 2017-18 season.
Pep Guardiola had expressed disappointment after his side lost against a resolute Liverpool side in the quarterfinals of the 2017-18 Champions League season. He also went on to say that winning the Champions League along with the Premier League would have been like icing on the cake.
Guardiola was quoted as saying that Manchester City has got some brilliant performers in their squad who can win the double this time around. Manchester City could feel the pinch as midfielder Kevin De Bruyn will be out of action for three months because of a knee injury.
Manchester City fans will be hoping for his quick recovery as the Belgian was quite influential for the Citizens in the last season. Manchester City though has some outstanding talent who can match the class of Kevin De Bruyne.
We take a look at five such players who could be crucial for Manchester City’s success in the 2018-19 Premier League season.
# 1 Gabriel Jesus
The 21-year-old forward is the core of Manchester City's forward line. He registered 13 goals in 29 games in the 2017-18 Premier League season with 4 assists to his name. His pace and darting forays can ground the staunchest of defenses. His predatory skills inside the box have looked threatening.
In the 2016-17 season too, the Brazilian striker produced some shining performances along with Sergio Aguero. Gabriel Jesus's inclusion provides a lot of pace in this Manchester City forward line. In the months going ahead, Jesus could well turn out to be a player who could decide the outcome of a game through his fast-paced game.
Pep Guardiola has always been a firm believer of playing attacking football right from his managerial days at Barcelona. Jesus provides the strength in the forward line along with another star striker Sergio Aguero.
Gabriel Jesus has been a revelation for Manchester City and it will be interesting to see how the youngster shapes up in the 2018-19 season. Pep Guardiola too has shown a lot of confidence in the youngster and has been a source of motivation for the striker. Jesus has scored 1 goal in 3 Premier League games in the ongoing season and will be Guardiola’s go-to man in the forward line.
#2 David Silva
An experienced campaigner, David Silva has all the qualities of a midfielder. He has been a guiding force behind the success of youngsters like Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling. His ability to link up with the forwards could be a crucial factor for Manchester City. David Silva has been an old guard for the citizens as the Spaniard has been playing for the club since the 2010-11 season.
His capabilities are for all to see as the winger offers great depth in the midfield along with other midfielders like Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne etc. He can also play as an attacking midfielder.
David Silva has combined well with the forward line consisting of Gabriel Jesus and the charismatic Sergio Aguero. Davis Silva scored 9 goals in 29 matches with 11 assists to his name. The midfielder is the fittest as compared to some younger players of the team. During the 2016-17 season, Silva was criticized for underperforming against some tough opponents but was a crucial link in the 2017-18 season for Manchester City.
Pep Guardiola has stated that David Silva will always be an integral part of Manchester City's midfield because of his ability to come back strongly. Silva recently signed a 3-year contract with Manchester City and it clearly shows how eager the owners, as well as the team management, were to retain Silva because of the experience and playmaking skills he brings to the table.
#3 Sergio Aguero
Aguero has been one of the most consistent performers for Manchester City over the last few years. In the 2017-18 Premier League season too, the Argentine was an influential figure in his side’s success. Aguero continued his good run of form from the 2016-17 season.
Though there were reports about his possible fallout with Guardiola in the last season, the manager had stated that everything is fine between the two. The '30-year-old' can outlast his opponents with his swift and fast moves. Aguero’s finishing also looked spot on in the 2017-18 season.
The striker registered 21 goals in 25 matches in Premier League games in the last season with 6 assists to his name. Aguero looked brutal inside the box because of his spectacular finishes. He looked equally impressive during aerial duels. The flamboyant striker infuses a lot of intensity in the forward line because of his accelerating pace.
The Argentine can floor his rivals with his ability to position himself inside the box with his inventive moves. Aguero will be expected to continue with his good run of form from the last season. Aguero has always been a vital cog in Manchester City’s forward line. In the ongoing season too, Aguero has scored 3 goals in 4 games.
The striker has delivered some spectacular performances whenever the team needed him to deliver. Aguero was the core of the Manchester City forward line alongside Gabriel Jesus in the last season. The striker can play a crucial role for his team with his brilliant counter attacks which can threaten the best defences.
The former Atletico Madrid player will always be remembered as one of the greats in the history of Premier League. His finishing looked brilliant in their 6-2 win against Huddersfield last week.
His quickness on the field has always caught the opposition’s defence off guard. Aguero has always been a fighter on the field because of his never say die attitude. The striker can also win the ball from the opposition's defence with his combativeness. Sergio Aguero's presence provides a lot of width in this Etihad outfit forward line.
#4 Raheem Sterling
Raheem Sterling was at the top of the game in the 2017-18 Premier League season. The '24-year-old' can outsmart the best defenses with his deceptive moves. Sterling can operate quite well at the flanks and has always been a smooth operator during set pieces too. He has colluded well with the likes of David Silva, Leroy Sane and Kevin De Bruyne in the midfield. The England international showcased his class with his elegant finishes and clever passes.
He had been Pep Guardiola’s go to man right throughout the 2017-18 season during crunch situations. The elegant midfielder netted 18 goals in 33 Premier League games in the 2017-18 season with 15 assists to his name. He has always been praised for his ability to play wide and for his adaptability. He can play as a winger as well as an attacking midfielder.
The midfielder showed massive improvement in the last season as the midfielder. In the 2018-19 Season, Sterling has been used as forwarding which could provide a lot of bite in Manchester City forward line. Sterling will be the heart of the forward line along with Gabriel Jesus and Sergio Aguero. He was quite instrumental in holding the midfield together and played a supporting role for the forward line in the last season.
Sterling had stated that Pep Guardiola has played a crucial role in bringing the best out of him by motivating him for his consistency. Sterling's unorthodox moves can outsmart the rival's defense. He continues to hold a very important position in the midfield. His presence infused a lot of stability in the midfield. Sterling scored a goal in Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle United yesterday.
He has always been appreciated for his ability to keep the ball in possession and for his ability to open up the opposition's defense with his speed and his control. Sterling looked equally impressive with his ability to win aerial duels. He also proved his effectiveness in winning the ball from the opposition.
#5 Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany has been the mainstay of Manchester City’s defense since he started his association with the club. The 33-year-old was instrumental for his side’s success in the 2011-12 season when Manchester City won the Premier League title. Kompany was also influential for Belgium in the recently concluded World Cup in Russia.
Kompany is known to be one of the best defenders at present because of his precise tackles and his ability to win aerial duels with his combative moves. The Belgian is also known to deny the rival’s goal-scoring opportunities during crunch situations because of his intelligent interceptions. Kompany has always been praised for being technically strong. Kompany's presence provides a lot of stability in defense and is quite reliable at the back.
