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Manchester City come into the Premier League season as the defending champions. The Citizens, under the management of Pep Guardiola, have been unstoppable lately.
They broke a huge number of records in their surge to the 2017-18 title, and put every other team in the shade. But they would be wary of one thing as they embark on their 2018-19 season: the champions' curse.
Based on recent history, there seems to a ‘curse’ upon the PL champions; most of them have failed in their bid to defend the title. But here, we take a look at five reasons to believe why Man City will do so against the odds.
1. Squad depth
Manchester City boast arguably the Premier League’s most sought after squad. The Sky Blues have at least two good players in every position.
Pep Guardiola could very well field two entirely different line-ups through the season. Because of that, all of City’s players will be fresh and ready to deliver when the demand arises.
2. Momentum on their side
Manchester City have the most important factor on their side - momentum. The defending champions head into the season riding a fabulous wave of confidence.
They were outclassing every team that came their way in the last season. While their FA Cup and Champions League runs came to disappointing ends, they managed to triumph in the League Cup as well.
On the back of several consecutive wins and a Community Shield in the bag, they could be an unstoppable force.
3. Winning mentality
Pep Guardiola has instilled a winning mentality in the Manchester City team. The former Bayern Munich and Barcelona coach has made sure that his players don’t play any match for just a solitary point. He expects three points in every match, which gives his players a positive mindset ahead of the new season.
4. Similar squad to last year
Manchester City have an almost identical squad as compared to last season. Riyad Mahrez has been the only significant addition to an already world class squad.
This will ensure that they get off the mark right from day one; no time will need to be invested in helping the team gain chemistry. The players will be familiar with each other right from the word go, which could be a major advantage in comparison to their rivals.
5. World Cup heroes bringing in renewed vigor
Manchester City contributed a large number of high-performing players at the FIFA World Cup. Almost every City player gave his all for his country, and those in England, Belgium and France got the added boost of reaching the final stages.
Moreover, someone like Leroy Sane, who was not included in Germany’s squad, will be out to prove a point.
