Will Manchester City win another treble this season?
Manchester City achieved what most people thought was impossible last season as they won the Premier League, Champions League, and the FA Cup.
It was a superb season with so many heroes in the blue half of Manchester making it happen.
Pep Guardiola is the most successful manager in the Premier League now, but he has not won the Champions League since he coached Barcelona.
For years, people believed he could not win that European trophy without Lionel Messi after he failed to win it at Bayern Munich.
Before 2023, the closest he came to becoming the champions of Europe as the manager of City was when his team reached the final in 2021.
City were the favourites in that game, but they lost to Chelsea, thanks to Kai Havertz’s only goal in that final.
But last season, they went a step further and were crowned European champions after beating Inter Milan by a lone goal.
Pep finally ended all those talks of him not being a successful European manager without Messi in his team.
City has dominated the Premier League since Pep came to town, as they have lost only one of the last six titles after Liverpool won the 2019/2020 crown.
The Reds have pushed City to their final day of the season on at least two occasions, with the 2018/2019 and the 2021/2022 league champions decided on the final minutes of the term.
In the FA Cup, City has also found success and have won the competition twice under Pep Guardiola.
The Spanish gaffer’s side watched Liverpool win the Carabao Cup this season and would now be eager to win the FA Cup as they did last season.
It has not been an easy season for the reigning champions of Europe and England, but City deserves credit for remaining in three competitions by this stage of the season.
Keeping your level of motivation up after such a successful campaign requires more effort, and the Citizens have stayed hungry for many years.
Pep has managed to keep his team grounded and motivated despite the success they have achieved in the last few terms, and he deserves credit for ensuring his side does not feel they are now too big to challenge.
But this season will be difficult for them in all competitions, as several clubs have stepped up and are ready to win.
In the Premier League, City is facing the biggest challenge to their crown since Pep Guardiola joined the club and Manchester City tickets holders are watching on closely.
Is this their toughest title challenge?
Previously, the Citizens had just one competitor, and it was mostly Liverpool who challenged them for the Premier League title.
Last season, Arsenal stepped up and replaced the Reds, who struggled, but the Gunners could not get close to City as Liverpool would have done.
Pep Guardiola’s side recovered from a ten-point disadvantage to win the league and leave Arsenal emptyhanded, even though the Gunners had started the season well.
Liverpool were poor last season and did not come close to challenging for the league crown, as they finished the campaign outside the Premier League’s top four.
However, the Reds are back in their groove now and have extra motivation to become the champions of England again.
Jurgen Klopp has announced his departure from the club when this season ends, and everyone at Liverpool, from the players to the fans believes the German deserves to leave as a Premier League champion.
After 27 league games, the Reds are at the top of the standings, having won 19 games, and they have 63 points so far.
City follows them closely with 62 points, while Arsenal is third with 61 points, making this the closest title race we have watched recently.
Liverpool and Manchester City will meet each others this weekend in a game that both clubs know they have to win.
If they draw, Arsenal will go to the top of the league standings, should the Gunners win their fixture.
2024 has been a good year for Arsenal, who have been unstoppable in the Premier League since the turn of the year.
The Gunners have been scoring goals for fun and recently became the first side to score at least five times in three consecutive away games.
Mikel Arteta’s side have tougher matches ahead and will face Manchester City at the Etihad in one of their matches before the season ends.
We expect the top three, which consists of these clubs, to change repeatedly between now and the end of the season when the league winner will emerge.
Return of Haaland and De Bruyne
City suffered a poor run of form in the first half of the season, which was because they lost two key men to injuries as Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne both spent time on the sidelines.
The Citizens also lost Rodri for some games, and it affected their performance as they dropped points, and that allowed Liverpool and Arsenal to meet them at the top of the standings.
However, De Bruyne and Haaland are back to full fitness and showed what their combination can bring when they tore Luton Town apart in the FA Cup recently.
City relies on these two in their attack, and who wouldn’t? They are simply one of the best pairs in European football now, and their return to fitness makes it harder for Liverpool and Arsenal to gain any advantage over City.
Haaland has been guilty of missing some big chances in recent games, but with De Bruyne on his side, the chances will keep coming, and we know the Norwegian is a deadly finisher.
The unsung heroes of this Manchester City team
Haaland and De Bruyne are often considered the main stars of the current Manchester City team and deserve all the praise they are getting.
However, City is not a team of just a few stars, as Pep Guardiola has the pleasure of working with some of the best talents in the world.
City’s owners are one of the richest and have splashed the cash on several players since Pep became their manager. Who are the players not getting enough credit in the current City team?
Rodri
Depending on who you ask, Rodri is probably the most important player at Manchester City, as the Spaniard delivers top performances whenever he plays.
However, what stands him out is the fact that City never loses when he plays, and this run has gone on for more than 50 matches now.
Julian Alvarez
Alvarez is such an underrated player, and one cannot help but wonder why because he has already won all the biggest trophies in world football, including the World Cup.
Alvarez has played every single league game for Manchester City this season and has 8 goals and 8 assists from 27 Premier League matches.
Oscar Bobb
Bobb is the latest youngster Manchester City has unearthed, as he delivers top performances for them when he plays.
He scored their winning goal against Newcastle United some weeks back, and that goal is a reason City is this close to the top of the league table.
Phil Foden
Foden is enjoying a superb run of form now that has made his manager call him the best player in the Premier League at the moment.
The City academy graduate is hitting form at the right time with 11 goals and 7 assists from 27 Premier League games this term, he is unstoppable right now.
City has all it takes to win the treble again at the end of this season, but this time, it will be harder to achieve.
