After a historic Premier League title-winning campaign last season, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will look be looking to defend their crown when the top flight action returns.
Ahead of the 2018/19 campaign, we caught up with fan site City Watch to get the low-down on progress made on and off the pitch…
What do you make of your club’s pre-season preparations, both on and off the pitch?
I don’t think they’ve been ideal to be honest.
Like most the top clubs we have been affected by the World Cup meaning almost most of our starting lineup have missed the pre-season tour and will get back less than three weeks before the first game.
Having said that, it has been a great opportunity for some of our youngsters to go out and impress the manager and I believe that will be vital in their development.
Which of your club’s summer signing has you most excited about the new campaign?
Riyad Mahrez is the only real high profile signing we’ve made but im excited to see him in action. He looked sharp in pre-season and obviously he was fantastic for Leicester.
Benjamin Mendy will also feel like a new signing having missed most of last season and it will also be interesting to see if Claudio Gomes (former Paris Saint Germain under 18s captain) gets any game time with City not signing another midfielder.
Who’s your club’s young-player-who-could-make-a-breakthrough this season?
The obvious player would be Phil Foden. He got some game time last season and will be looking to develop on that. Guardiola also talks very highly of him.
As mentioned before, Claudio Gomes could have a slight chance and young central defender Eric Garcia had a really good pre-season. However, chances of first team action might be few and far between this season.
What will be your club’s biggest factor behind achieving its targets this season?
Consistency. It will be extremely difficult to reach the heights of last season. Becoming centurions and only losing two league games was an incredible achievement.
If we can with the same consistency and the same level next season, while taking that confidence into the Champions League, then our targets are very achievable.
What will be your club’s biggest barrier to achieving its targets this season?
Fatigue could play a part, especially with the high press style of play and challenging on four fronts.
I don’t ever question the desire of our players but retaining the title hasn’t been achieved in over ten years so ensuring the levels of performance are maintained will be a challenge.
We seem to be unfortunate with injuries, too, so hopefully all our players can stay fit for as much of the season as possible.
Which club outside yours do you think has done the best business this summer?
I think Liverpool have done great business. They have bought in the areas they needed to strengthen and could be a real threat next season.
Meanwhile, Fulham, West Ham and Wolves have also done great business and all could challenge for a top ten place.
If you had to pick a six-a-side team from your club’s current squad, who would be in it?
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Finally, how do you think your team will have done come the end of the 2018/19 season?
It’s hard not be confident after the season just gone. I believe we will win at least two trophies, although I’m not going to predict which two that will be.