COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF 2015/16 CIT Y A LUCK OF CHAMPIONS
CITY can win their third Premier league title in five seasons – but will need plenty to go their way.
The positives come in attack. A team that has top scored in both seasons under Manuel Pellegrini has added Raheem Sterling this summer – a player with a point to prove that looked razor sharp in preseason.
Whether Kevin De Bruyne arrives or not, few teams will outscore them.
Sterling’s arrival also accelerates a move away from playing two men up front, for which the manager has drawn criticism.
That should prove particularly useful in the Champions League, where they disappointed last season – whatever luck involved in facing Barcelona, the team only really played to their potential in one of their eight games.
City new boy Fabian Delph has a chance to make a difference to the Blues once he is fit
Moreover, a formation switch will give Pellegrini options: the fluidity to play two up top if he feels necessary or allow Sterling and the majestic David Silva a free role in and around defences.
For a team that lost important points to struggling sides last season and had Pablo Zabaleta suggesting they could only play one way, that could be crucial. And the fact that 4-3-3 more closely resembles what the EDS play should make it easier for for the upcoming talents to slot in.
Like any team, City need to be fortunate with inju- ries. Pellegrini will hope the Copa America has not been as damaging as the World Cup was for some of his stars, and a fit Sergio Aguero should easily top the scoring charts.
There are also concerns behind the forward line.
The defence have had little time together in pre- season and Eliaquim Mangala admitted the Stuttgart performance was alarming. The Frenchman needs to prove his worth, and Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany and both left-backs must show they are not over the hill.
In front of them, Fernandinho will be key to offering the back protection.
Fernando remains a mystery and there is a big opportunity for Fabian Delph to step up and make a difference in the team.
Pellegrini seems content not to make any more defensive additions, a call which will likely have a big say in whether City can claim the title.
If they are to be victorious it will be with attacking, entertaining football, as the Chilean’s first title at the Etihad was. The Blues will also require other teams to stumble. Pellegrini will be keen to see the Chelsea of the second half of last season, an overworked small nucleus of players slowly tumbling over the finish line.
It will need Arsenal too to perfect their routine of recent years and come up stylishly short, and City must keep the bragging rights in Manchester.
It can be done, it won’t be easy, but City wouldn’t have it any other way.
line