Pep Guardiola and Manchester City swept all before them last season but can they achieve something remarkable and unique by winning a fourth title in a row?
There is a sense of inevitably heading into the new season about the destination of the Premier League title, with Manchester City perhaps having never been such heavy favourites.
It would solidify the sense that the Premier League is quickly becoming a higher-end Bundesliga or Ligue Un and rubbish the ‘anything can happen’ vibe that both the league and Sky Sports try and present ad nauseum. Including City, only six clubs have done three-in-a-row but as football began in 1992, Manchester United’s 1999-2001 and 2007-09 vintages will be most closely examined. It was also oddly the only one of these sides that also had the same manager for each of the seasons, while including the only other Treble campaign.
Could City players find themselves feeling a bit similar? They’ve won it all. It is only human nature to wonder what the point is now and to feel a sense that their job is done. Pep is also so incredibly high-demanding that it does drain some players over time. In their place this summer comes the Croatian pair of Josko Gvardiol and Mateo Kovacic, both of whom will be expected to have a major part to play this season.
To be fair, City do have a World Cup-winning backup in Julian Alvarez, who likely would start for every other side in the league, but anyone is a drop-off from Haaland. City’s squad is also not the deepest, instead comprised of 15/16 elite-level players. Could the increased workload which now includes the Club World Cup, lead to the treatment room filling up?
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