Football writer Alex Keble assesses each Premier League club and their prospects for the 2024/25 season.
Manchester City
The question of Pep Guardiola’s future will loom over Manchester City’s 2024/25 season, but the answer to it is predicated on another, more urgent one: what is there left for this team to achieve?
Motivation is the only barrier to a fifth consecutive title – and Guardiola knows it.
“It’s over, what am I doing here? It’s over, there’s nothing left”. Back in May, Guardiola revealed those were his thoughts after winning the Treble in 2023, only for the pursuit of a record-breaking four in a row to re-inspire him.
“’No one has done four in a row, why don’t we try?’ And now I feel ‘It’s done, so what next?’ I don’t know right now.”
If Guardiola doesn’t find an answer, a window of opportunity opens for the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool.
Performance last season
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Man City
MCI
|
38 | +62 | 91 |
| 2 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
38 | +62 | 89 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
38 | +45 | 82 |
| 4 |
Aston Villa
AVL
|
38 | +15 | 68 |
FA Cup: Final
EFL Cup: Third round
UEFA Champions League: Quarter-final
UEFA Super Cup: Winners
FIFA Club World Cup: Winners
Last five seasons
| Season | League position |
|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 2nd |
| 2020/21 | 1st |
| 2021/22 | 1st |
| 2022/23 | 1st |
| 2023/24 | 1st |
Best Premier League finish
Champions: 2011/12; 2013/14; 2017/18; 2018/19; 2020/21; 2021/22; 2022/23; 2023/24
See: More about Man City's history
Season aims
Win the quadruple? Adding the EFL Cup to the traditional Treble has never been done before. There’s something to aim for.
It’s unlikely, but not impossible. A more pressing desire for Guardiola, especially if this is to be his final season at the club, is adding a second Champions League trophy.
A perfectionist might view one title in nine years as an underachievement.
Key transfers
The hugely exciting Brazilian winger Savinho is the only new signing. Guardiola said there were no plans for any more unless someone leaves, but Julian Alvarez has since completed his move to Atletico Madrid.
Man City's key transfers so far
| Player | Transfer Type | Club |
|---|---|---|
| Savinho |  Transfer In |
Troyes |
| Sergio Gomez |  Transfer Out |
Real Sociedad |
| Julian Alvarez | Transfer Out |
Atletico Madrid |
See: Clubs' summer 2024 transfers
Tactics
The secret to Guardiola’s longevity has been constantly evolving his tactical blueprint.
The most recent change has been fielding four big centre-backs across the back four, dispensing entirely with the full-backs he spent so long redefining.
It would be foolish to attempt to predict the next move, although it wouldn’t be a surprise if it had something to do with central midfield, an area City have looked vulnerable (by their standards) since Ilkay Gundogan’s departure in 2023.
Pre-season results and fixtures
24 July Man City 3-4 Celtic Report
27 July Man City 2-3 AC Milan Report
31 July Man City 2-2 Barcelona (Barcelona win 4-1 on pens) Report
3 Aug Man City 4-2 Chelsea Report
10 Aug v Man Utd (Wembley) FA Community Shield
What the manager says
"We will arrive late but not [just] against Manchester United [in the Community Shield], against Chelsea and Ipswich too. We will be late. It's about trying not to drop many points, try to compete well. We don't have players because they have to rest [from international duty]."
Best XI (4-3-3)
Ederson; Kyle Walker, John Stones, Nathan Ake, Josko Gvardiol; Kevin De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo Silva; Savinho, Erling Haaland, Phil Foden.
Opening PL fixtures
Kits
See: More details at Man City's online store