A strange incident at Manchester City. Last season, Josep Guardiola’s side won their fourth consecutive Premier League title and were one year away from completing an incredible treble.
However, things didn’t go well. Guardiola’s car is a complex one, and after years at the top, some cogs have fallen out of place. In a way, that was expected. Manchester City’s continued dominance for so long was miraculous in many ways.
There has been a lot of uncertainty in City’s pre-season preparations for this season, but there are some bright spots on the horizon, with them sitting fifth in the table after seven games. Leaders Arsenal maintain a three-point lead.
Arsenal have perhaps the most complete squad in the Premier League, but Liverpool boast the most threatening front line, having broken the English transfer record twice this summer with Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.
When Man City missed out on Florian Wirtz
At the beginning of the summer, it appeared as if the German was on his way to Etihad Airways. According to reports, he was apparently “tempted” by a move to Manchester, but the Citizens ultimately backed out of his contract.
In fact, other claims at the time suggested they withdrew their interest due to the “increased costs” associated with the move. very. Liverpool ended up signing him for a whopping £116 million.
It’s unlikely they’ll be too upset, though. City are led by the unstoppable Erling Haaland, while Wirtz continues to struggle and is yet to score for Liverpool.
The season started slowly by Haaland’s standards. 9 goals in 7 Premier League games. How embarrassed he must be to bow his head.
Haaland by PL Season (7 matches) | ||
|---|---|---|
season | the goal | assist |
25/26 | 9 | 1 |
24/25 | 10 | 0 |
23/24 | 8 | 1 |
22/23 | 11 | 1 |
Dates via Transfermarkt | ||
The Norwegian has posted more twice at this early stage, but opinions are divided, which highlights exactly what an unparalleled goalscorer Haaland really is.
The 25-year-old is now a strong and intelligent No. 9, combining physicality with natural shooting ability and movement and timing that surpasses other players in his position.
If City regain the title this term, there is no doubt that the unstoppable striker will be the star.
Haaland is the Premier League’s most valuable player, according to the CIES Football Observatory, but he is not the only Citizen with a hefty price tag.
In fact, Guardiola has another player in his ranks who surpasses the aforementioned Liverpool superstars Isak and Wirtz.
Man City win gold for ‘generational talent’
Manchester City may have emerged from a valley, but there are many mountains further down. And among the defining stars of the Guardiola era is Phil Foden, who may be coming into his own again.
Foden graduated from City’s academy in 2016 and went on to make 197 appearances for City, winning numerous accolades including six Premier League titles and the Champions League. Miguel Delaney of the Independent hailed him as a “generational talent”.
The versatile attacking midfielder, who had an incredible flair on the ball and was a force to be reckoned with in the final third, arguably slumped last season, but has been a talisman throughout City’s glory days, ostensibly pre-dating his prime.
The CIES Football Observatory only outlined in January that the Three Lions star was one of the most valuable players in the world, with a value of £126m, ahead of Werts and just ahead of Isaac.
Liverpool have received a lot of praise for their extravagant summer and certainly look like a force to be reckoned with in the long term, but with Haaland and Foden combining in the final third under Pep, there’s every chance City will be the team to beat again in the short term.
This highlights the quality that Pep has at his disposal, and if Foden can improve his game a bit more in the coming months, it could produce a campaign that pales in comparison to Liverpool’s heavy hitters.
It remains to be seen whether Foden will reach the same meteoric heights as his previous campaign, but he is starting to come together again and has the ‘generational’ quality to make as big an impact as Haaland throughout the year.