With the 2015/16 English Premier League season a matter of weeks away, Richard Jolly provides his thoughts on each of the 20 teams and predicts their final league finish. Here he looks at Manchester City.
There is a pattern in recent seasons. Every other year, City invest heavily in attacking talent, score vast amounts of goals and win the title, overhauling their rivals with a late winning run. Should 2016 be like 2014 and 2012, City will be champions. Yet this is, probably, the final year of Manuel Pellegrini’s reign. Some wonder if, given the ages of their players, it may be their last season together as a squad. Fabian Delph is a useful acquisition and the £49 million (Dh279.3m) man Raheem Sterling is a rare youngster, charged with re-energising a group. While many were criticised last season, Sergio Aguero and David Silva were actually excellent. Others, such as Yaya Toure and Vincent Kompany, have more of a point to prove. So, too, the £42 million defender Eliaquim Mangala, who has to start justifying his price tag. Pellegrini appears to have abandoned his stubborn fondness for 4-4-2, which is just as well, especially in summit clashes. City tended to slip up against the best and the worst, rather than the mid-table teams, last season. They remain capable of going on remarkable runs but Chelsea displayed rather more consistency to take their title. City may have the most talented team in the Premier League but, as that showed, it does not necessarily render them the eventual winners.
Key Man: Sergio Aguero – The Premier League's 26-goal top scorer last season, Aguero becomes still more significant with City's switch to 4-2-3-1. They have more creators now, but one outstanding scorer.
Pivotal Signing: Raheem Sterling – City got their man, eventually and expensively. The £49 million winger brings youth and pace, both of which City required, and he could give them an added dimension in attack.
Crucial Factor: Pellegrini. The spectre of Pep Guardiola looms over the Chilean, who is in the final year of his contract. Pellegrini's obdurate faith in 4-4-2 backfired in big games last season. He needs to be more flexible this term – and ignore stories about his future.
Prediction: 3rd
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