UEFA Champions League 2018/19: 5 reasons why Manchester City can win the tournament

Newcastle United v Manchester City - Premier League
Can City really win the European championship?

Champions of the 2017/18 Premier League season, and one of the most power-packed sides in world football, Manchester City are repeating exactly what they did the very last season. Although their previous Champion's league campaign was filled with tears of sorrow and heartbreak, their reason to stand tall all over again is just valid.

With a more complete and star-studded starting XI, City's chances of going through the semi-finals and then eventually winning the prize is ultimately high, With record-breaking signings, record-setting tantrums and completely applying a new style of play, Guardiola's intention of winning the title comes with not much of a surprise.

Options all over the bench, the 'Cityzens' are now looking forward to winning a treble. With their current performance in the league, they are sure to rise above all the odds and win their very first European honour all over again, however difficult it may be, Guardiola surely knows how to win another gold for his team, after all. he is the chosen one!


#5 Options on and off the bench

With an 'all-star' team, the Sky Blues will be able to win the tournament.
With an 'all-star' team, the Sky Blues will be able to win the tournament

Being one of the richest association football teams in the ord, the sky blues have the liberty of spending some of that quality money over some of the quality world-class players. Surely, Pep Guardiola has been able to capitalize in terms of using his transfer budget wisely and unsurprisingly.

With Sheikh Mansour having his back at all times, the Spaniard has set some of the most unusual transfer records the previous season. Introducing Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy as two of the most expensive defenders in the world up until the last season, Pep's 'all-star' strategy is surely working.

This has definitely led to the options on and off the bench being full of defenders, midfielders and attackers who are not only experienced but are also the optional candidates for being the first team players for their teams.

With substitutes in the form of Leroy Sane, Ilkay Gundogan, Fabian Delph, Danilo, Otamendi and many more, you can only imagine how monstrous their starting lineup would look like.

With the likes of Mendy, Stones, Ederson, Silva, Aguero, Sterling and Mahrez being the frontline of City's inventory, they now stand in ranks with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich as being the perfect 'All-Star' team.

The quality of football that they have to offer can surely win them the Champions League this season.

#4 A star-studded attacking lineup

Manchester City v Huddersfield Town - Premier League
Aguero's current form will be an asset for City's Champions League Revival

Not only is Sergio Aguero one of the most accomplished strikers of the modern era, but he is also considered as being one of the best in the world.

With this season answering all his calls, Aguero has truly resurrected not only as a goalscorer but also as a top quality football player who has had a very successful tenure in all the seasons he played with his team.

This season in specific has been a monumental offering from the Argentine. With a hat-trick against a trailing Huddersfield side, we already experienced the kind of world-class potential the Man City number 10 has to offer.

Though Aguero is a top class goal scorer for his team, he is joined by one of the most celebrated young talents in the world;

Gabriel Jesus is yet another candidate who is just a maestro in terms of scoring goals, playmaking and being the second striker after Aguero in Guardiola's new theory of playing two centre-forwards at the very same time.

A successful feat achieved, the two are now revolutionizing the way their teams function. In addition, a trio of Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane can be a threat to the opposition in terms of being three of the most aggressive attackers in the world.

#3 Style of Play

Manchester City v Newcastle United - Premier League
Possession based system can always get the goals

"What I want you to do, is don't lose the ball. Do simple things and the rest? is because we are good"

This is what Pep Guardiola said when asked about his style of playing the possession-based football.

We've already mentioned how Guardiola has revolutionised the way the gears of Manchester City function, the former FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager has changed every aspect of tactical necessities that was required by the Cityzens.

Of course, the good old tiki-taka, coming with an old school approach of playing 4-4-2, crowding the midfield and improvising spaces all over the flanks.

With a more aggressive and straightforward approach, this season Guardiola plans on taking over the most famous trophy all over the world, by playing all of his players on and off the bench, with a decisive role for each and every individual.

Allowing his players to chose the options for themselves, Guardiola, with the help of the head coach Mikel Arteta has added flexibility to the current lineup.

With Mendy and Walker being the aggressors from the flanks, constructions done by Silva and Gundogan, and the finishing applied by the likes of Aguero and Sterling, City is sure to succeed.

A free-flow width/possession-based system of football has been the key for the much obvious and intimidating Manchester City side.

With the blues looking forward to winning the season all over again, they can easily be the contenders for the champions league this very season.

#2 The midfield

Manchester City v Burnley - Premier League
The midfield is the real deal

For a team that is managed by Pep, midfield is where it starts and where it ends. The midfield is by far the most important aspect of the kind of possession-based football that this Spaniard has to offer.

With the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, who are considered as being two of the most important midfielders in the Premier League, Manchester City can be the champions without any efforts.

A deep-lying midfielder in the form of Fernandinho, who not only provides opportunities to the attacking thirds but also manhandles the play defensively.

Forming a link with Aymeric Laporte and John Stones, making sure that his experience is of some use, as he is the hard-working problem-solver of his team.

Another addition, the veteran David Silva, who has been the core of the team ever since he arrived has flourished in his very new role as a box to box attacking midfielder, as he was one of the major reasons why his team was victorious the last season.

But with the injury of Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City's reasons to worry are quite valid, with Ilkay Gundogan being the 'fresh gamble', only the time could decide the fate of the blues.

Also Read: Ranking the top 5 midfield trios of the current Premier League season

#1 Josep 'Pep' Guardiola

Manchester City v Huddersfield Town - Premier League
Guardiola's experience can surely get him the European title

With his not so successful Champions League campaign the last season, Guardiola's hopes of revival are the real talks of the paper.

A veteran in terms of winning the tournament not just once, but on two different occasions, Pep's understanding of how the League functions is a key for the City squad.

With a trophy full of cabinets and a winning attitude, Guardiola is probably the topmost reason why Manchester City can win the title this year. With the tactics and the alignment of his players in different roles, City is sure to progress in a very different manner.

His expertise with his team, making them an all-star, 'hungry for more' kind of squad is also one of the reasons for his squad to be the ultimate revelation.

Although the Spaniard hasn't really flourished the tournament in the past seven years, his experience and miracles are all of the past, the times have changed, and so the way that the teams function.

Will he be able to do what most managers cannot? Only the time can tell, as the match days approach.

Also Read: 5 candidates for the manager of the month award for August 2018

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Edited by Alan John