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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola faced plenty of criticism at the end of the 2019-20 season. That was because the Sky Blues barely managed to compete with Liverpool for the Premier League title, finishing with 81 points, which was just three points more than what they garnered in their worst finish under the Spaniard (2016-17).
City's misery was further compounded by their quarterfinal exit in the UEFA Champions League where they suffered a 1-3 humbling at the hands of Lyon.
Despite the money spent on expensive acquisitions under Guardiola, Manchester City have repeatedly failed to conquer the Champions League as the Spanish tactician tends to overthink his lineup. Following their latest heartbreak in the competition, the brickbats soon followed after an FA Cup semifinal loss to eventual winners Arsenal as it meant that the League Cup was the only domestic trophy Manchester City won last season.
Financial unfair play by Manchester City?
It could have been worse for Manchester City as UEFA handed them a ban for the 2020-21 edition of the Champions League for allegedly breaking financial fair play rules. But the club received a massive repreive when a CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) ruling overturned that decision which drew plenty of consternation.
Many expect Manchester City to spend big in the transfer market yet again as they seek to reinforce their squad. A blockbuster move for Lionel Messi came unstuck as the Argentinian superstar confirmed that he would stay with Barcelona for the final season of his contract, although there is still a possibility that the Spanish giants may consider jettisoning the player in January.
The Cityzens have been relatively quiet in the transfer market when compared with some of their domestic rivals. Manchester City have brought in Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres for a combined fee of £71m. A move for Napoli centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly is on the cards as Manchester City seek to reinforce their backline that was hit hard by injuries to key players last season.
With David Silva departing the club to enjoy a final Spanish summer with Real Sociedad, there are opportunities for Manchester City's stacked midfield to play a greater role.
Manchester City's possible lineup in the 2020-21 season:
Here's how the Cityzens could line up in the 2020-21 season as they look to end their European hoodoo and also wrest the Premier League title back from Liverpool.
Goalkeeper: Ederson
Pep Guardiola has no major headaches when it comes to the goalkeeping position as Ederson is pretty much the best option he has. The Brazilian is one of the two best goalkeepers in the Premier League and arguably amongst the top five in world football.
There were signs that Ederson wasn't at his best during the 2019-20 campaign as the Brazilian made a couple of high-profile, but rare, errors. However, that comes with the territory of what Guardiola demands from his goalkeepers.
Manchester City are likely to have a settled backline ahead of Ederson this season, and the Brazilian may very well get back to his best.
Blessed with excellent ball-distribution skills, which is arguably the best in world football, Ederson has very few weaknesses, if any. His shot-stopping prowess and impressive command of his area make him a nailed-on starter.
However, Manchester City are a bit thin when it comes to backup for their number one as Claudio Bravo has left the club and Scott Carson hardly generates much faith. That means if Manchester City are to win any silverware this season, Ederson's fitness will be of paramount importance.
Defence
Right Back: Kyle Walker
The English defender had a 2019-20 season to forget as his attacking output reduced, and he was also caught out at the back on multiple occasions. Own goals and red cards for the England national team have further compounded his misery, with the defender also in the news for violating COVID-19 lockdown protocols.
It's telling that Kyle Walker's best moment of the 2019-20 season came in goal when the right-back stepped in as an emergency option to keep a 'clean sheet' against Atalanta.
At the end of the day, Walker still has the very attributes that made Manchester City break a transfer record to bring him to the club, so he ought to start the 2020-21 season with a clean slate.
Joao Cancelo remains an option for Pep Guardiola, but the Portuguese defender failed to make an impression while on loan last season and might find chances to play hard to come by. For now, Walker has the right-back position all to himself.
Right Centre-back: Kalidou Koulibaly
Manchester City's need for a right-sided defender was amplified in the 2019-20 season as injuries to Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones, coupled with their poor form, meant that the inexperienced Eric Garcia was often the preferred option, with Fernandinho also called upon at times.
Napoli president Angelo de Laurentis has confirmed that Manchester City are interested in Kalidou Koulibaly. But owing to their sour relations with the English club due to the failed Jorginho transfer in 2018, Napoli are not dealing directly with City, instead preferring to talk through an agent, something which is delaying the transfer. However, given Manchester City's financial might, it is inevitable that Koulibaly will line up for the Sky Blues sooner rather than later.
Koulibaly's attributes are pretty much perfect for Pep Guardiola's needs as the Senegal captain marries his physical presence with impressive positioning. The 29-year-old is at his peak right now and will bring much-needed solidity to the defensive setup at the Etihad.
Left Centre-back: Aymeric Laporte
Manchester City lost out on the Premier League title to Liverpool by a wide margin, and many believe Aymeric Laporte is worth those 18 points. The French defender's qualities were on display for much of the 2018-19 season as City romped to the title. However, Laporte missed 30 games in all competitions for the Cityzens last year, and Guardiola's men expectedly suffered in his absence.
Laporte brings a much-needed calm to the Manchester City backline as his athletic abilities and positioning result in opposition forwards not having much space to work with. The impeccable ball-distribution skills of Laporte, who is arguably one of the best centre-backs on the ball, means that Manchester City tend to have a vice-like grip on possession stats when the Frenchman is on the field.
With Koulibaly alongside him, the opposition will have their work cut out in the 2020-21 season.
Left Back: Nathan Ake
A few eyebrows were raised when Nathan Ake moved from Bournemouth to Manchester City, though they were mostly for the size of the transfer fee rather than the player's abilities. Despite signing Ake from a relegated team, Manchester City had to part with a sizeable sum of £40m owing to the player's age and the English premium.
Benjamin Mendy ought to have the left-back spot sown up in all fairness, but the Frenchman's lack of defensive ability might mean that Pep Guardiola relies on Nathan Ake as a left-back rather than as a centre-back
Ake played as a left-back for Netherlands in the recent international break, and his performances ought to convince City fans that he is the right man for that role.
Midfield
Right Central Midfield: Kevin de Bruyne
Manchester City's sole shining star during a stuttering 2019-20 campaign, Kevin De Bruyne, is undoubtedly Pep Guardiola's first name on the team sheet. The Belgian racked up 13 goals and 20 assists for City last season to win the PFA Player of the Year award, although that was not an accolade he particularly cared for.
Such is Manchester City's strength in this position that even when De Bruyne is unable to play, the club has the likes of Ilkay Gundogan to call upon, although the German has been rather off form of late.
Nevertheless, if Pep Guardiola is to lift yet another Premier League trophy this season, one can be sure that Kevin De Bruyne will be at the heart of it, such is his influence on the pitch. His vision, passing accuracy and ability to control the pace of games will be crucial as Manchester City attempt to put their opponents to the sword.
Central Defensive Midfield: Rodri
It is perhaps the most contentious of positions that Pep Guardiola has to preside over since many believe that Fernandinho is still Manchester City's best option at the base of their midfield, despite his age.
Rodri came into the Premier League with a big price tag but has failed to justify it fully so far. The Spaniard was given plenty of game-time in the 2019-20 campaign, but he took too long to adapt to the English game, with his errors compounding Manchester City's defensive struggles.
However, there's an element of 'scapegoat'ism when it comes to the criticism of Rodri as Manchester City struggled in multiple defensive positions in 2019-20. Fernandinho is no spring chicken, and given the raw attributes that Rodri possesses, it will be no surprise to see the latter anchor the base of the Sky Blues' midfield.
Left Central Midfield: Phil Foden
The pain of David Silva's departure after a legendary trophy-laden decade at Manchester City was offset by the promise of Phil Foden for many a City fan. The English youngster may have had his off-field issues with the national team, but when it comes to his performances on the pitch, there is very little doubt about his prowess.
With a goal contribution every 104 minutes of the 1770 he saw last season, there are quite a few expectations on Foden's young shoulders, with many expecting the player to have a breakout season.
Bernardo Silva or Ilkay Gundogan will be on hand to take his position if Foden falters, so the youngster ought to be kept on his toes, although the likelihood of him losing focus seems minimal. Foden's attacking temperament might mean that in the big games he could be dropped. But as many of the Premier League teams set up in low blocks against City, Foden's driving runs and passing ability may come in handy.
Attack
Right-Wing: Riyad Mahrez
Riyad Mahrez racked up 13 goals and 16 assists in all competitions for Manchester City last season, but his performances went slightly under the radar as he was only the Sky Blues' fourth-most effective player. Nevertheless, his eye for goal and the powers of his wand-of-a-left-foot have not diminished, so Mahrez ought to keep his place as a right-wing inside forward for Manchester City this season.
While Pep Guardiola's penchant for rotation meant that Mahrez initially did not find a place in Manchester City's starting lineup at the start of the 2019-20 campaign, the Algerian has made sure that the right-wing is his coming into this season as he put together a string of stellar performances to end the 2019-20 season.
The €45m purchase of Ferran Torres from Valencia was made undoubtedly with an eye on the future, and the 20-year-old Spanish winger could surely give Mahrez a run for his money. Bernardo Silva remains another option in a position that looks extremely well-stacked for Manchester City.
Central Striker: Sergio Aguero
The obituary of Sergio Aguero's Manchester City career has been written multiple times ever since Gabriel Jesus joined the club, but time and again, the evergreen Argentinian has maanged to prove pundits wrong. Despite all his injuries, Kun Aguero remains Manchester City's talisman, and the fans at the Etihad will be praying that he stays fit all season.
Why? With 23 goals and four assists in just 2092 minutes for Manchester City last season, Aguero averaged a goal involvement every 77 minutes. It's an astonishing number that will no doubt rise further if he manages to stay injury free this campaign.
However, at the age of 32, the Argentine striker is no spring chicken, and Gabriel Jesus is waiting in the wings to take over if needed.
Jesus' contribution of 23 goals and 14 assists in all competitions was overlooked in some quarters, but definitely not by his manager Pep Guardiola who opted against bringing in striking reinforcement in the transfer market. Either way, Manchester City have all the striking firepower they need.
Left-Wing: Raheem Sterling
A tap-in into an unguarded goal that was blazed over from a couple of yards out - that will sadly be the most abiding memory of Raheem Sterling from the 2019-20 campaign. His miss against Olympique Lyonnais will go down in UEFA Champions League history, but the English winger has always been able to handle with aplomb the criticism that often comes his way.
What was most impressive about Sterling's 2019-20 season for Manchester City was that he bettered Kevin De Bruyne's 39 goal contributions with 41 of his own. With Leroy Sane having left the club, Sterling's role on the left-wing, from where he can score and assist with scarcely believable ease, has become incredibly important.
While Bernardo Silva also offers options on the left-wing, Sterling's ability to be a bit more direct may come into play against opponents who set up to defend. Guardiola will be hoping that there are no more open-goal misses in 2020-21.
