Feature

2024/25 club preview: Manchester City

By Alex Keble 4 Aug 2024
Manchester city

Can Pep Guardiola lead his side to an unprecedented fifth consecutive title in what could be his final season?

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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.  

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Performance last season 

Premier League

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
View More

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
Man City home kit
Man City third kit
Man City away kit

See: More details at Man City's online store

Where will they finish?

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