Pep Guardiola has not made many signings but keeping Ederson and Kevin De Bruyne a boost in quest to entrench dominance
No one believed Manchester City were capable of winning a fourth Premier League title in a row, then they did, becoming the first team in 135 years to do so. So can they keep making history and win five in a row?
You would certainly not want to bet against the record of Pep Guardiola, who has only failed to win the league title in three of his 15 years as a manager, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City.
Arsenal, who finished two points behind City last season after narrowly missing out on the crown the previous year, look like being their only credible challengers, as Liverpool will be in a season of transition under Arne Slot and Manchester United and Chelsea look set for more inconsistent campaigns.
Still, there is a danger that City could turn stale and finally surrender the title to Arsenal. They have made just one major signing in Savinho and have lost a very useful squad player in Julian Alvarez. There is also the possibility that this could be Guardiola's last season with the club, leaving the potential for motivation to fizzle out as it did at Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp announced he would be leaving.
It is set to be an equally intriguing season off the pitch for City as their hearing with the Premier League over allegedly breaking its financial rules is set to finally take place in September. The whole league has a stake in the outcome of the case, which could have seismic ramifications either way.
If City are found guilty, they could be relegated from the league. If they are declared innocent of the charges, there is set to be an outpouring of indignation from their rivals. And if they win their other court case against the Premier League over associated party transactions, it could usher in a new era of total domination. Watch this space…
GettyMood around the Etihad Stadium
The summer after City won the treble, there was a feeling of both loss and renewal, as Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez departed but a whole wave of new signings arrived. But as the new season dawns upon the Etihad Stadium, there is a sense that little has changed since the end of the last campaign.
Savinho is the only new face, and arguably the club's biggest achievements of the summer have been to keep hold of Kevin De Bruyne and Ederson, who both looked likely to leave for Saudi Arabia.
It could well be the last dance for Bernardo Silva, De Bruyne and Kyle Walker, and indeed for Guardiola. And unless City spend some of the money they earned from the Alvarez sale, there is bound to be some trepidation ahead of the new campaign.
There is also some dismay among fans about the hearing over the 115 charges being brought forward. City's results will be questioned with even more fervour than before, while the battle in the courtroom could gain more attention than the action on the pitch.
However, many supporters also relish being the team that everyone loves to hate. If City can win yet another title amid all the noise around them, they will be more than happy.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTransfer business
City have made just one signing so far, bringing in winger Savinho from fellow CFG club Troyes for £31m ($40m). The Brazilian propelled Girona to finish third in La Liga with nine goals and 10 assists and will provide extra competition for Jack Grealish and Jeremy Doku on the left wing, although he can also play on the right, as he does for Brazil.
It has been a busy summer of departures. Julian Alvarez has joined Atletico Madrid in a stunning £82m ($105m) move which should lead to City making further signings before the transfer window shuts. Tommy Doyle has joined Wolves permanently for £4m ($5m) after spending last season on loan there.
Taylor Harwood-Bellis has also made a permanent move to Southampton, with City pocketing £20m ($25m) from the deal. Sergio Gomez has moved to Real Sociedad permanently for £8.4m ($10.8m) and Yan Couto, who was on loan at Girona last season, has gone out on loan to Borussia Dortmund.
Kalvin Phillips has joined Ipswich on loan while it remains to be seen whether Joao Cancelo makes another loan move or tries to mend his broken relationship with Guardiola.
GettyPre-season performances
City returned to the United States for their pre-season tour looking to capitalise on their stunning growth in North America in recent years as well as warm up for the new campaign.
They were left without many of their first team regulars due to the Copa America and European Championship, leaving Erling Haaland and Jack Grealish as the star attractions. On the pitch, the tour was a mixed bag of results.
City were surprisingly beaten 4-3 by Celtic in their opening game in Chapel Hill, with Haaland scoring but the team looking vulnerable defensively, particularly on the counterattack. Haaland struck again against AC Milan but City were on the losing side once more, going down 3-2 after a sloppy display by Ederson.
Grealish scored and looked lively when City drew 1-1 against Barcelona in Florida before losing on penalties. The tour, at this point, threatened to be a bit of a letdown but City salvaged it by hammering Chelsea 4-2, with Haaland scoring a hat-trick.
City then warmed up for the new season by beating Manchester United on penalties to win the Community Shield after Bernardo Silva had snatched a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
Getty Images SportTalking tactics
While other football dynasties' lust for winning eventually burns out, Guardiola keeps finding new ways of motivating his players, and keeps on innovating tactically. Last season he reinvented Phil Foden in midfield and turned centre-back Josko Gvardiol into a marauding, free-scoring full-back.
It will be intriguing to see whether he tweaks Erling Haaland's role in the team and asks for him to get more involved in the build-up, as the Norwegian looked static and blunt against the top opponents last season, drawing blanks against Arsenal, Real Madrid and in the FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United.
Guardiola also must find a solution to the departure of Alvarez, who filled in as back-up to Haaland and De Bruyne. There is no clear candidate currently in the squad to take the baton from the Argentine as second striker, although Savinho could be deployed there as City are already well stocked when it comes to left wingers.
Guardiola's use of Grealish will also be one to watch. The coach warned the England winger that he cannot afford another season in the wilderness and he faces fresh competition from Savinho as well as Doku.