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Manchester City had a remarkable 2017/18 season notching up a square 100 points in the Premier League table. They also had a record-breaking season with the most consecutive wins (14) by any team in the top flight.
The 2017/18 season witnessed the Guardiola era where records were tumbling every now and then. After having a disappointing first season in 2016/17 as City's manager, Pep reshaped the entire team by signing young and more dynamic players, making City a serious title contender. Since then, City were almost unstoppable and relentless everytime they moved up the pitch creating the most number of opportunities in a single campaign.
City also won their second trophy, The Carabao Cup against Arsenal in which they managed to score 3 goals and keep a clean sheet. This was Pep's second trophy in a single campaign, having not managed to win a single silverware in his first season as City's manager, for the first time in his whole career. However, the FA Cup exit was not impressive as one would have thought - being knocked out by Wigan Athletic in a match that also had a debatable red card.
Having topped the group stage and winning the round of 16, Pep's men were brutally punished with Liverpool winning by 5-1 aggregate. Pep will miss the starting 3 matches of the UCL group stage having faced a ban after breaching the rule with the official referee in their semi-final clash against Liverpool at The Etihad Stadium. He will be hoping to win the Champions League with The Sky Blues after he failed to win the trophy during his stay at Bayern Munchen, almost 7 years since he last won with Barcelona in 2011.
Manchester just bought Riyadh Mahrez in this summer window in order to add more strength and composure in City's attacking area.
On that note, let us look at the most likely XI of the Champions that will take the field this season.
Note: Manchester City will follow a 4-3-3 for the same.
Goalkeeper - Ederson Moraes
The man guarding City's goal played a majority of games in his first spell under Pep Guardiola. Despite having not played a single minute at the World Cup, he remains Pep's most trusted player at the back.
Ederson kept 14 clean sheets in 36 appearances made for the club in Premier League. Having the ability to come quickly off the line and make quick decisions, the young keeper has caught Pep's eye ever since he joined City last season. There were a number of times where the young goalkeeper made the wrong decision which was punished by the opposing team, but was always appreciated by his manager from the sidelines. Pep will try to improve him in certain areas making him more subtle and decisive.
Defenders
John Stones
Keeping in mind that Stones played a substantial part in England team, Pep will be keen on resting Stones for the initial start of the campaign. Having been more effective through set pieces, scoring 2 goals with a header, Pep will be keen on making him play more minutes and is more likey to replace Otamendi at the back who at times has looked vulnerable and too offensive.
Stones did not play a major part of the last season due to his injury but has become more composed ever since the World Cup campaign, giving a major boost to Pep.
With Kompany injury prone, Pep won't risk playing him from the first go and keep him reserved for crucial matches.
Aymeric Laporte/ Nicolas Otamendi
Having missed out on representing the French National team at the World cup, Laporte will be hoping to start the season right from the very first match. Laporte looked decisive during his short time at the Etihad and will be hoping to improve in the coming season.
Being solid at the back, it seems likely that Otamendi will start the season from the first match itself. Having scored some crucial goals last campaign, he will be hoping to continue his form in the upcoming campaign. Otamendi completed the most number of successful passes by a defender in the last campaign and Pep will not be in a mood to drop him in their first match against Arsenal.
Full-Backs
Kyle Walker
With Danilo injured, Walker seems likely to occupy the right-back position from the start of the season itself. Kyle Walker played as a centre-back under his national coach Gary Southgate but will return to his natural position of playing in the right-back under Pep Guardiola.
Walker created several assists in the campaign and caused a lot of problems for oppositions with his low pacy crosses into the opponents' box. Having genuine pace, Walker can cover a lot of flank and with his impressive work rate, act as an extra man in City's attack.
Benjamin Mendy
Benjamin Mendy signed for a record fee of £52m from Monaco last year. The left-back, however, played only initial stages of the campaign, after a serious ligament injury sidelined him for around 7 months.
Mendy played a few minutes towards the latter end of the season coming on as a replacement. Having won the Fifa World Cup with France and Premier League Title with Manchester City in the same year by making only 7 appearances altogether, he will be hoping of playing a more substantial role. It looks like Pep will make Mendy book his left-back place from the start of the season.
Midfielders
Fernandinho, David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne
The midfield is the heart of Manchester City. With likes of David Silva and De Bruyne, the midfield becomes more composed and organised.
Fernandinho plays the role of central defensive midfielder adding an extra man to the defence allowing the full-backs to move upwards and provide attacking threats. Under Pep, the Brazilian put in impressive performances in almost every match by winning tackles and being more composed on the ball.
The midfield area is anchored by Silva often referred as 'The Magician' and De Bruyne. The duo have made key passes in the campaign scoring less and creating more. De Bruyne won the playmaker of the season recording 16 assists to his name and scoring 8 goals in the Premier League.
David Silva managed to score 9 goals and provide 11 assists. The duo were in top 3 number of assists in the campaign. With sublime touches, ball control and key passes by the duo, City can move from one part of the pitch to another within a blink of an eye. Having such creative midfielders can change the complexion of the game and add more balance to the squad.
Attackers
Leroy Sane
The German adds more pace on the right flank, posing threat to opposing teams. A master of pace, he can accelerate at any given point of time making him almost unstoppable on the flanks.
Having not been to the World Cup, Sane will be impatient to get the start he needs right away from the first match. Having recorded 10 goals and a total of 15 assists to his name, just 1 below his club mate De Bruyne, he will be hoping to find the back of the net more often.
An alternate option available is Bernardo Silva, often coming on as a substitute. But towards the latter end of the season, he started often and never let the opportunity go by, scoring in almost every match he started.
Raheem Sterling/ Riyad Mahrez
City's latest summer signing was Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City for a fee of £60m which will provide an extra pace on the right wing along with the likes of Sane, Jesus, Sterling and Aguero. Mahrez who scored 12 goals for his former club Leicester, will be hoping to raise his bar after joining Manchester City. After picking a knock in a pre-season match, he is doubtful for the Community Shield against Chelsea in the coming week but will surely resume to action after he recovers fully.
Sterling will still remain Pep's first choice at the right wing even though he may not start against Chelsea in the Comunity Shield. Sterling has been criticised for his finishing, which he will look to improve this season. The Englishman scored 18 goals and assisted 11, his best stats since he joined Manchester City from Liverpool in 2015. Sterling saved City several times this campaign by scoring late winners which were celebrated by his manager Pep and team mates jubilantly.
Striker
Sergio Aguero
Having scored 22 goals in 2017/18 season, Aguero managed to score 20+ goals in 4th consecutive Premier League season. This is Aguero's penultimate season with Manchester after having said that he will play for his boyhood club Newell's Old Boys after his contract expires in 2019/20.
Sergio Aguero became the club's all-time top scorer this season, adding another record to his name. Sergio Aguero will once again lead the line with a squad full of exceptionally talented player.
Gabriel Jesus will be a backup for Aguero. However, Pep may give him few matches to start just to give some rest to the Manchester City legend.
