After a substantial start to the 2017/18 season, Man City fans will be dreaming of another title winning season. It’s been a few years now since Manchester City have topped the Premier League come May, but could 2017/18 be another campaign finished at the top of the pecking order for the Citizens?
Fans were hoping this could have been last year after the arrival of managerial superstar Pep Guardiola. After stunning terms at boyhood club Barcelona and later Bayern Munich, spirits were very much lifted at the Etihad. Everything seemed to be falling into place for the blue half of Manchester.
They got off to a flying start last season but alas, it was not to be the dream season after all. This came as somewhat of a shock to City fans due to Pep’s pedigree as a managerial masterpiece. He has become the most successful manager at one of Europe’s biggest teams in Barcelona. Amongst the accolades are three title winning seasons and two Champions League winners medals. In his debut season for the club, he won the coveted treble.
In his time at Bayern Munich after a year out of the game, Pep won the title of the Bundesliga for every season he was there. A true great of the managerial world, it was a more than promising signing for Manchester City, an appointment more exciting than most players.
After the dream start to his English career, Pep failed to maintain these outstanding early performances. After dealing with dream squads at Barcelona and Bayern Munich containing players such as Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski, it was questioned whether Pep could do the same job at Manchester City or not. During a first season of no trophies in English football, Pep suffered his longest winless streak (six games) and his biggest defeat as a manager, losing 4-0 to Everton. City did however, qualify for the Champions League after finishing 3rd.
The 2017/18 season seems to have gotten off to the perfect start. Currently matched by rivals Manchester United at the top of the league, City fans couldn’t ask for much more. After emphatic victories against Watford and Liverpool, as well as a resounding win in the first group stage match of the Champions League, Pep seems to have turned things around at the Etihad stadium. Fans of the blue side of Manchester will be praying he can now emulate his stints at Barcelona and Bayern, proving critics wrong that he can in fact do it in the Premier League.
Written by Sam Brazier.
