After becoming the first team to win four consecutive titles in English Premier League Last season, Manchester City seeks to continue its absolute dominance of the championship, in the ninth season of its coach, Pep Guardiola.
With the Spanish coach’s contract set to expire next summer, his future will remain a major point of discussion throughout next season until it is resolved, and this could have an impact on the team if things remain unresolved.
But even if Manchester City lose their winger Julian Alvarez, the signing of Brazilian winger Savinho this summer means they now have firepower in terms of dribbling and speed.
Manchester City’s fiery sides with Guardiola
Savinho on the right and Jeremy Doku on the left, something reminiscent of the Leroy Sane-Raheem Sterling duo, especially in the 2017-18 season when they contributed 54 goals in 65 games between them.
Savinho has a similar advantage in terms of his direct play, he is a nightmare for defenders in one-on-one situations, just like Doku, and if he plays on the left at Girona, he will play on the right at City to take advantage of his left foot.
His 104 successful dribbles were the most of any player in La Liga last season. Furthermore, the last player to reach 100+ in a single season aged 21 or younger was Lionel Messi in 2008-09.
With Savinho on the right wing, it’s easy to see how Bernardo Silva could drop deeper into the midfield more often, rather than starting from the wing where there’s now good depth, Doku and Jack Grealish on the left and Savinho and Oscar Bob on the right.
Rodri alternative or improve results without him
The only thing that’s bothering me Manchester City In the new season he is the replacement for Rodri, who is a big problem when he is absent, and City’s defeats often occur in his absence.
Since the start of the 2022-23 season, they have lost just six of the 102 games they have played with him in the starting lineup. That’s the same number of defeats they have suffered in the 18 games in this period when he is not playing.
Keeping the team out of trouble off the pitch
Aside from the Guardiola contract renewal debate, there is also talk of City being charged with 115 counts over alleged breaches of Premier League financial rules, in what could be one of the biggest potential scandals in English football.
The hearing, long-awaited by rival teams and football fans alike, is said to be due to take place in late autumn, almost two years after the flood of allegations reached the Etihad Stadium.
If found guilty, City could be hit with a points deduction or even expulsion from the Premier League. City deny any wrongdoing, and it is a sensitive and complex issue for a variety of reasons, so Guardiola will have to keep his team out of the debate.
