After having a marvellous season last year, Manchester City will be targeting nothing but glory in both, the Champions League and in the Premier League this time around.
Winning the Premier League title is tough but defending the crown is the most challenging part. The last team which was able to defend its title was Manchester United in the season of 2008-09. Since then, no team has been able to attain the glory twice in consecutive years.
Pep Guardiola has spent an enormous amount to build the arsenal which Manchester City possess but will that be enough to have a Déjà vu of a season? Are there areas where Manchester City can still improve? Should Pep Guardiola go player hunting again in this transfer window?
Well, Yes! Premier League is a league which believes in the process of evolution. The reason behind the failure of teams to defend their title is the idea of being static with their title-winning squad. Now, we analyse the main reasons why Manchester City should pull up their socks to remain on the right path to triumph.
RIVALS SPENDING BIG MONEY
Though Tottenham Hotspur are yet to announce a marquee signing, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea have already added one or more big-name players to their squad. Especially, Arsenal and Liverpool are clearly in a mood to strengthen their squads. Unai Emery’s Arsenal has already completed the signing of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Bernd Leno, Stephan Lichtsteiner and Lucas Torreira. Liverpool have acquired the services of Naby Keita, Fabinho, Alisson Becker and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Manchester City can boast of Riyad Mahrez as their only significant signing of this transfer window and having a rare quiet window could come back to haunt them in the latter stages of the season.
VULNERABLE LEFT-BACK SPOT
An injury-hit season for Benjamin Mendy forced Pep Guardiola to play either Fabian Delph or Zinchenko in that position. Both of them are midfielders and not left-backs. Danilo featured in that position but was too wasteful. Mendy is now fit to start in his preferred position but Pep Guardiola is short on options to back him up.
Fabian Delph had a rejuvenating season with City but no assurances can be given that he will remain unexposed when he faces a quality opposition.
Signing a talented young left-back is essential for Guardiola if he wants his team to strive for glory on every front.
NEED OF YOUNG LEGS IN MIDFIELD
Fernandinho is now in his 34th year and Pep needs to find a successor to his most reliable player. At this age, Guardiola cannot expect the Brazilian midfielder to start every game and has to give special attention to his game-time. With Yaya Toure gone, Manchester City lacks alternatives in that position.
The Sky Blues have been linked with Miralem Pjanic in past few weeks and at the age of 28 years, Pjanic will be a major signing for Manchester City. His composure on the ball and passing attributes are well-known.
