MANCHESTER CITY
Time to make their mark in Europe
After strolling to the Premier League title last season, playing some of the most sophisticated football ever seen in the English top flight, City will inevitably have an eye on the Champions League prize. Their Abu Dhabi owners have not pumped in petrodollars galore to be Euro also-rans – and that is what City have been in recent years, only once making the semi-finals in seven attempts.
Although Pep Guardiola would never admit it, he is in need of a continental coronation. Since overseeing Barcelona’s win against Manchester United in the 2011 Final he has enjoyed precious little European fortune, losing no fewer than four semis and twice coming up short with City, who were eliminated in the round of 16 by Monaco in 2017 and only went one stage further last time out.
That quarter-final defeat by Liverpool left Guardiola with plenty of food for thought. In the 3-0 first-leg humbling at Anfield his side were completely blown away, unable to resist their opponents’ intensity and aggression. With that template for beating City now established, it’s up to Guardiola to find a remedy.
Personnel-wise, City appear to have even more top-quality options this term.
Following several abortive attempts to leave Leicester City, winger Riyad Mahrez finally got his dream move to the Etihad Stadium, while French left-back Benjamin Mendy – who missed most of last season with damaged cruciate ligaments – is now fully recovered, primed and ready to maraud down the flank again.
Why did City pay £60m for Mahrez?
Essentially, three reasons: his incisiveness in one-on-one situations, an eye for a killer pass and the ability to play either right, left or through the middle. City are experts at stretching the opposition and the Algerian has the guile and speed to take full advantage.
Where is City’s soft spot?
As Liverpool proved more than once last season, City are not comfortable when subjected to a ferocious high press. The central defenders all have question marks against them: Vincent Kompany is never far from an injury lay-off, John Stones is prone to lapses in concentration, Nicolas Otamendi lacks composure and Aymeric Laporte is not as robust as he should be.
Who can be the breakout performer?
After a stop-start first season, Portuguese attacking midfielder Bernardo Silva began this campaign in impressive form. Sharp, clever and imaginative, he should start many more games in the months ahead.