Manchester City is facing its toughest season yet, as they prepare to defend their Premier League title. The team has been hit with a major blow as forward Julian Alvarez is set to leave for Atletico Madrid in a deal worth £81.5m. City manager Pep Guardiola did not want Alvarez to leave, as he has been a key part of the team’s attacking unit, but the club has a policy of not keeping unhappy players.
The issue for Alvarez at City was the presence of prolific striker Erling Haaland. Haaland’s statistics over the past two seasons far surpass Alvarez’s. Haaland has scored 90 goals in the Premier League, while Alvarez has scored 36. When goals and assists are combined, Haaland has 105, compared to Alvarez’s 53. Haaland also leads in total shots and shots on target. With no chance of displacing Haaland in the starting lineup, Alvarez decided to look elsewhere to become the main man.
City has brought in a new signing, 20-year-old Brazilian Savinho, who has been compared to former player Riyad Mahrez. Savinho contributed nine goals to Girona’s successful Champions League qualification campaign while on loan. City also has other attacking options in Jeremy Doku, Jack Grealish, and young Norwegian Oscar Bobb. However, the question remains whether Guardiola feels he has enough cover for Haaland, especially with an expanded Champions League and the Club World Cup on the horizon.
City has a history of releasing players and still finding success. In the past few years, they have sold Leroy Sane, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte, Cole Palmer, and Ilkay Gundogan. Despite these departures, City has continued to win titles. Their success can be attributed to their recruitment strategy, desire, coaching, and a bit of luck. Guardiola is known for his meticulous assessment of players and his coaching abilities.
However, this season will be challenging for City not only on the field but also off the field. The club is still awaiting the outcome of their legal action against the Premier League regarding profit and sustainability rules. They also face 115 charges for allegedly breaking these rules dating back to 2009. City denies the charges, but the punishment is uncertain.
There was speculation that this season would be Guardiola’s last as City boss. However, he recently hinted that he may sign an extension, retracting his previous statement about leaving. When Guardiola eventually departs, City will need to ensure they have a successful succession plan in place to avoid a decline similar to Manchester United’s.
In addition to Guardiola’s potential departure, City also faces the uncertainty of key players’ futures. Playmaker Kevin de Bruyne is entering the final season of his contract, goalkeeper Ederson is wanted by a Saudi Arabian club, and Bernardo Silva and John Stones have contracts that expire in 2026.
While it would be unwise to predict the fall of City’s empire, there are certainly challenges ahead as they aim for a fifth successive Premier League title. The team will need to navigate the loss of Alvarez, potential departures of key players, legal battles, and the pressure to maintain their winning streak. Only time will tell if they can overcome these obstacles and continue their dominance in English football.