Why City might not win this season
> The Citizens broke every single record in Premier League history on their way to last season’s title. Is there any reason to suggest they will not defend it?
FINDING evidence to suggest that City will not win the title is like an exercise in clutching at straws, but there are still certain obstacles that could trouble them. If one, two or all of them cause problems, who knows? A title race could suddenly break out.
No cover for Fernandinho
The major frustration of City’s summer so far was their failure to bring Jorginho to the Etihad. The deep-lying midfielder chose Chelsea and a reunion with his former Napoli manager Maurizio Sarri instead.
Jorginho was said to be a replacement for Yaya Toure, though he surely would have played more than the 228 Premier League minutes Toure managed last season.
In one of the team’s most demanding roles, Fernandinho was an often-unheralded success last season. At his age, though, can he be expected to do it all over again? Even if he does, he is not as inventive a passer as Jorginho or as natural a fit in the role.
Nor are Ilkay Gundogan, Oleksandr Zinchenko and John Stones, all touted as alternatives. Still, there was a hint of wistfulness last week when Pep hailed Jorginho as an “exceptional holding midfielder”, as that is exactly what he needs to complete his vision at City. With one, they would look almost unstoppable.
An ageing contingent of influential players
Guardiola’s attempts to hit the ground running in his first season with City were undermined by an ageing set of fullbacks. Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandar Kolarov were all on the wrong side of 30 and all sold in the following summer.
Ahead of his third season, Guardiola finds himself with a new contingent of over-30 players – Fernandinho is one. Vincent Kompany and Nicolas Otamendi, his preferred defensive pairing towards the end of last season, are two others. David Silva and Sergio Aguero make it five in total.
There are three key differences between this group and the fullbacks of 2016.
First, they play centrally rather than wide, so are not asked to cover quite as much ground.
Secondly, City have learned from past mistakes in recruitment and have young or peak-age understudies in place for them all, bar Fernandinho.
The third, though, is that this current crop enjoys a greater deal of influence at the club. Kompany, Silva, Aguero and Fernandinho – along with Kevin de Bruyne – are all in the five-man ‘senior players group’ set up by Guardiola that provides a bridge between the dressing room and management. Tottenham, Manchester United and the rest, the key could be simply keeping City in range and then waiting until their schedule piles up for the opportune moment to strike.