Manchester City

Freddie Pye
Fan writer

Where will you finish in the league and why?

After a fourth successive Premier League title, Manchester City are raring to go again. But how can we possibly go one better?! Winning a fifth in a row, of course. And that is our prediction.

With changes aplenty across the division, City remain stable. Some have called for several new signings, but Pep Guardiola remains content. Arsenal will be a significant challenge, but we are backing the relentless hunger stemming from Guardiola to do it again.

Who is the best signing or has he not signed yet and who should it be?

Savinho is exceptional recruitment, showing why the City Group is an unstoppable, talent-developing machine. But we believe City's best "signing" could already be in the squad; Oscar Bobb. Exceptional in pre-season, he is likely to be afforded greater responsibility. And, with the exit of Julian Alvarez, he could even be called upon in the false nine role.

What do you want from your manager this season?

After everything City have already achieved, what more could we possibly want from Guardiola? Simple; a new contract. The romanticism of 10 years in charge is a mouthwatering possibility. Will we see that? Only Pep knows. But he has earned the opportunity to make that decision in his own time.

Who will be the breakout star in your squad?

What may sway Guardiola is the breakthrough of youth, and particularly James McAtee. After two consecutive loans, the time is now to take his understanding of the game to the next level. Consistent 90 minutes may not be here just yet, but we could see glimpses of an exceptional talent and moments to inspire, and we are tipping him as our breakout figure.

What is your one major concern?

While there is plenty to be positive about, one major concern is clear, but we will keep this one on the pitch. Rodri has made his struggles public in terms of physical demands. City are yet to sign a player for any absence and that could be costly. However, Guardiola is no doubt capable of finding a solution.

Freddie Pye can be found at City Xtra, external

The latest episode of the 'You'll never beat Kyle Walker' podcast has landed.

Chris Hughes is joined by Walker to discuss England's adventure at Euro 2024.

Listen to the full episode here on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester City travel to Chelsea on Sunday for the start of the 2024-25 Premier League season and Pep Guardiola's side are on the hunt for a fifth successive league title.

Club captain Kyle Walker says it will not be easy - but why can they not achieve it?

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily, the right-back shared what Guardiola talks to them about before the start of each season: "It is always a different message from him, but also the same. You have to do things a bit differently each season because teams and players find you out to break you down.

"But the objective is still to win as many games as possible and bring as many trophies home as possible.

"It will be tough though because you have to make sure you are always in thick of the Premier League. Last season we had a fantastic start, peaked off a little bit and then a good ending. All that matters after 38 games is that you are lifting that trophy.

"As a captain for this great club, lifting the trophy is something that will remain with me forever. The hunger [for success] does not change because of the feeling you get. It is something I can not put into words.

"Each and every game is a dogfight because no one rolls out the red carpet, so for us to do four in a row off the back of a Treble was a great achievement. But why can we not go and do five in a row?

"That is the motivation we have to create as a bunch of players. If you did not have that drive then Pep would not have you at the club.

"Winning is a big part of his DNA."

Listen to the full discussion on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James spoke to BBC Radio Manchester about Oscar Bobb after his man of the match performance in the Community Shield:

"When he's on the ball, he looks dangerous, I love watching him. He's doing things that people aren't expecting.

"He's gifted with this style of play like Phil Foden, but I think he's got the opportunity to be better.

"He's had a fantastic pre-season with whatever team has been out there. If this is just a pre-cursor to what this season is going to be, then we are looking at some special player."

Hear more from James, along with Pep Guardiola and Rico Lewis here

Image source, Reuters

Manchester City trio Erling Haaland, Rodri and Phil Foden are on the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers' Assocation Player of the Year award for 2023-24.

They helped City win a fourth successive Premier League title, with Haaland ending as the division's top scorer and Foden's contribution earning him the Football Writers' Association player of the year award in May.

Norway striker Haaland won the PFA award in 2022-23.

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Chelsea forward Cole Palmer and Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins complete the shortlist for the PFA prize, with the winner being announced on 20 August.

The nominees are:

• Phil Foden (Manchester City)

• Erling Haaland (Manchester City)

• Martin Odegaard (Arsenal)

• Cole Palmer (Chelsea)

• Rodri (Manchester City)

• Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith says Jack Grealish will use being dropped by England as "fire" for the new season.

The 28-year-old, who Smith managed during his rise at Villa, before joining Charlotte FC in the United States, has matured in recent years.

The pair reconnected during City's pre-season tour of the United States and discussed the England ommission, which Grealish admitted he was "absolutely heartbroken" about.

Smith said: "He will use that as fire now, and he is becoming a parent soon as well.

"I think that maturation of Jack that we have seen over the years is coming to the fore and hopefully he can carry on his form from pre-season into the new season.

"He is a top player. He has gone to Manchester City and won everything with them since he's been there. He was an integral part of that Treble win. I have no doubts he'll come to the fore as he always does."

A clip of Grealish helping a young boy went viral after a match in the US and Smith said: "He's just a normal and really loving and humble person as well.

"Everybody in that dressing room loves him as soon they meet him and he's no different now at Manchester City [to Villa]."

His manager Pep Guardiola has since admitted that Grealish is a doubt to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on the opening day in the Premier League after missing the Community Shield match on Saturday.

Only four other players had completed more minutes for City in pre-season.

Manchester City are willing to let 28-year-old England midfielder Kalvin Phillips leave on loan, with Ipswich, Everton and Fulham all interested. (Manchester Evening News), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

After a long summer break, BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club is back in action this evening.

Tune in as the panel cover all the major talking points from the summer and look ahead to Premier League football returning at the weekend.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Mike Minay
BBC Radio Manchester reporter

Image source, Reuters

Nobody played more games in the Premier League for Manchester City last season than Julian Alvarez.

But would you rank him in the top three players who "must play" or were "critical" to a fourth successive title.

Off the top of my head, I'm saying Rodri, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland all sit ahead.

Of the 11 Premier League goals Alvarez scored across 2023-24, only three were match-winners. OK, you could argue, if he did not score those goals then City would not have won the title, but you could say the same of Oscar Bobb at Newcastle or Haaland at Spurs.

Alvarez wanted to be a number nine, the position that very, VERY few could take away from Haaland at Manchester City.

When the Norwegian missed six weeks over Christmas and the new year, City scored 19 Premier League goals in six games, with Alvarez netting five of those across four games (for reference, Bernardo Silva and Foden scored three, Jack Grealish and Rodri two).

Was that enough to stake his claim?

After 31 January, he only scored three more times in 15 games. When you list all of his games in order throughout the season there are purple patches, but there are also barren spells.

Maybe he was slightly out of position, sitting in behind Haaland rather than alongside him or in his place, but for a man wanting his fair share, you would expect a few more goals.

Ultimately, football is a business. Manchester City have shown their success at player sales in recent seasons and this is very much the same. They paid £14m for Alvarez in January 2022 and have sold him for about six times that if all add-ons are met.

For a second striker, that's not bad business at all.

Listen to Total Sport on BBC Radio Manchester every weeknight at 18:00 and listen to every Manchester City game, home and away, live on BBC Radio Manchester.

BBC Sport's experts have been considering which young players may become big names this season.

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport's Simon Stone gives his verdict on Nico O'Reilly:

I am not going against Pep Guardiola. It is a truism with youth players that they have the power to make it impossible to ignore them through the excellence of their performance.

The 19-year-old O'Reilly did just that against Barcelona in Florida - and while a number of senior stars are yet to return to training after the Euros and Copa America, O’Reilly’s performance against the manager's former club is bound to stick with Guardiola.

As a midfielder, he knows a regular first-team slot is impossible for now given Rodri's presence. But he may get opportunities from the bench, especially after another impressive display in the Community Shield win against Manchester United.

See who else our experts picked here

Image source, Getty Images

Julian Alvarez has thanked Manchester City staff, players and fans for their support after his move to Spanish club Atletico Madrid was confirmed.

The Argentina striker won six major trophies during his two seasons with City, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League in 2023.

"Today I say goodbye to this amazing club, with a lot of emotion," said Alvarez., external "These have been two very special years. During this time, I have grown and learnt a lot - both as a player and as a person.

"To the directors and the technical staff, thank you for your confidence and support. Your teachings and vision have helped me to develop so much.

"To my team-mates, thank you for every moment we have shared, for the effort and dedication in every training session and every match. I have learnt a lot from each and every one of you and I remain with memories and friendships that will last forever.

"To the fans, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the great support and for making me feel at home from the very first day. I will always be extremely proud to have been part of this family.

"Manchester City will always have a special place in my heart. I wish you every success in the future and I will keep on supporting the club wherever I may be."

Image source, Getty Images

The curtain opens on the 2024-25 Premier League season in just a matter of days, so why not take a look at how all 20 clubs performed in pre-season?

The games have been spread across the globe, from Tokyo and New York to Crawley and Preston.

See the results here

Image source, Getty Images

Ben Knight has left Manchester City to join Spanish third-division side Real Murcia.

The 22-year-old joined the club in 2018 as a 16-year-old but only went on to make one competitive appearance for the club, in the 2021 Community Shield.

He travelled with Manchester City on their recent pre-season tour to America and featured in the 4-3 loss to Celtic.

Image source, Getty Images

Kidderminster manager Phil Brown believes Manchester City will still finish 25 points better off than rivals Manchester United in the Premier League this season, despite Erik ten Hag's summer moves in the transfer market to bolster his squad.

FA Cup winners United finished eighth in the league last season, 31 points behind champions City.

"Manchester United at the moment, are not the kind of club that players are coming in and just genuinely hitting the ground running, they have to bed themselves in and take time," Brown told Football Daily.

"It was a real difficult season for [Manchester] United, but they finished off on a little bit of a high [winning the FA Cup], you have to say that.

"I didn’t see the Community Shield on Saturday, but I still say there will be 25 points difference between Manchester United and Manchester City next season."

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Community Shield between Manchester City and Manchester United.

Here are some of your comments:

Manchester City fans

Jukes: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This season is going to be about mental resilience. Blue moon rising.

Mark: Well as much as we are a great team and have nearly always more possession than most teams, Manchester United still had more chances than us so Pep needs to do a lot more with our team. We need to attack more, not just keep going back and forth. We need to give their goalkeepers more of a hard time.

Alex: Savinho is so skilful to go alongside Doku and Bobb. All the talk will be about them, and rightfully so. However, I think Kovacic was unreal when he came on. Hope players like him and McAtee get more game time this season.

William: Very proud to see these young players developing and Savinho looks another clever buy. We need a striker to cover for Haaland, although hopefully he has a less injury-hit season this time around.

Manchester United fans

Davy: It wasn’t flawless and City weren’t excellent, but there was plenty from Untied to offer some encouragement for the incoming season. Should’ve won it within the 90.

Malcolm: On this latest performance it could be the same rubbish this season. Nobody has that will to win, unlike some of our players from previous years.

Charles: Could have been 4-1 to United if Rashford and Amad had converted their chances and this game also was also proof that last season's performance against City in the FA Cup final wasn't accidental at all. We should be aiming for top three in the league, defending the FA Cup and, above all, winning the Europa League.

Alex: Performance to be proud of. We had gained experience from the FA Cup win. We came with a game plan, dominated the possession and had three or four chances to put the ball in the back of the net. Garnacho then scores an incredible goal but poor defending costs us an equaliser. Let’s hope injuries don’t hamper our season again.

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Jack Grealish is a doubt for Manchester City’s opening Premier League game of the season against Chelsea on Sunday.

Grealish missed the Community Shield triumph over Manchester United on Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury in training.

Although manager Pep Guardiola said it "isn’t a big problem", he acknowledged the 28-year-old could be out for three weeks or a month if he aggravated the problem during a match.

Grealish has played a full part in City’s pre-season campaign after being overlooked by England for Euro 2024.

City entertain newly-promoted Ipswich at the Etihad Stadium on 24 August after starting their title defence at Stamford Bridge.

"I don’t think it is much," said Guardiola. "It was a blow but we didn’t want to take a risk.

"Maybe he will be OK for Chelsea but if not, it will be Ipswich."

Brazil keeper Ederson, 30, has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia but says he is staying at Manchester City after talks with manager Pep Guardiola. (Mirror), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column