In 2022/23, Manchester City made history by winning the Treble. They became only the second English team to do so.Only Manchester United achieved the same feat way back in 1999,under arguably the greatest manager in the history of the game,Sir Alex Ferguson.
This season, City are in the hunt for the repeat of the last season’s extraordinary triumph. they are into the semi-finals of FA Cup,where they will face Chelsea.Manchester City play Real Madrid in the Quarter-finals of UEFA Champions League whom they defeated in last season’s semi-finals in the same competition and went onto to lift the trophy. City are also fighting for the English Premiere League trophy in a three-horse title race for the ages.Manchester City are not looking as unbeatable as they were last season.
The departures of club legends Ilkay Gundogan (FC Barcelona) and Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli) have significanly weakened the team.The defense also looks vulnerable.But under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola , one of the greatest head coaches ever,Manchester City are still favorites to win the majority of trophies this season. The team is loaded with superstars in every position. No team has ever won the treble back to back.This Manchester City team have the chance to do the impossible this season.
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Here we will discuss three players who could play pivotal role in the success of their team.
3-Erling Haaland (Striker,Manchester City)
The arrival of Erling Haaland to Manchester City last season coincided with club’s elusive first Champions League Trophy. He also shattered all Premiere League records with 36 goals in just 35 league games on his way to winning the Premiere League player of the year and young player of the year. In total,Haaland scored 52 goals and provided 9 assists in 53 games. Only Lionel Messi,the world cup 2022 winner with Argentina,stopped him from winning the Ballon Dor.
The 23 years old Norwegian formed a brilliant understanding with club icon Kevin de Bruyne. The vision and passing accuracy of De Bruyne mingled nicely with the strength and pace of Haaland. The duo was unstoppable for much of the last season. This season ,with De Bruyne injured for majority of the season,Haaland hasn’t been at his brilliant best. Though he is still topping the scoring charts in the Premiere League with 19 goals,but his impact in big games has subsided. Haaland is missing chances that he would have buried easily last season.
In the final two months of the season,with City fighting on three fronts,Haaland has to be at his brilliant best. De Bruyne is back from long injury lay off and could help Haaland find his best form. If Manchester City wish to repeat last year’s success,their talisman needs to fire on all cylinders.
2-Rodri (DM,Manchester City)
Rodri is without a doubt the best defensive midfielder in the world today. He joined Manchester City in 2019 and has become the heart and soul of the team. Under the mentorship of Pep Guardiola,Rodri has taken his game to a whole new level. He is the architect of most of City’s attacking play. Every move starts with Rodri. His reading of the game is impeccable. He stops opposition attacks with his brilliant tackling and turns them into attacks for his team with his precise passing.
Rodri’s importance to Manchester City was laid bare in 2021 UEFA Champions League final,where Pep Guardiola decided to play without a defensive midfielder and benched Rodri. City lost the match to Chelsea and every expert on the planet blamed Pep Guardiola’s tactic to not play Rodri. Last season Rodri scored the only goal in the Champions League Final triumph against Inter Milan. He was also instrumental in his team,s Premiere League title win. The No.16 played 56 games for City in all competitions ,scored four times and assisted seven more. This season Rodri is doing even better. He is bossing the City midfield and is providing the much needed steel to the faltering defense.
Rodri is also contributing on the other side of the field with important goals and assists. In 40 games this season,He has scored 8 times and have assisted further 12. These are incredible numbers for a defensive midfielder, whose main job is to sit deep and stop opposition’s forays forward. Rodri’s importance to this Manchester City team can not be overstated. He is the one who makes them tick. He will play a starring role in City’s successes this season.
Phil Foden (AMF,Manchester City)
Manchester City academy graduate Phil Foden has been going strength to strength since his first team debut in 2017 as a 17 years old kid. Foden has won everything at club level and he is just 23 years of age. He played a crucial role in Manchester City’s treble success last season,scoring 15 goals and giving 8 assists in 48 games in all competitions. Foden was on the bench for the UCL final against Inter Milan because of his patchy form.
Foden took that snub to his heart and has been in majestic form for City this season. The injury to Kevin de Bruyne has proven to be a blessing in disguise for Foden,who always wanted to play in the midfield while Pep Guardiola mostly deployed him on the wings. The absence of De Bruyne opened up a place in the midfield and Foden grabbed it with both hands. He is undoubtedly City’s best player and favorite to win the Premiere League Player of the Year award.
On this form,he will also be in contention for the Ballon D’or. In 44 matches so far,Foden has 21 goals and 10 assists to his name. This already is most productive season of his career and he still has many games to play. Foden is now the main man in the team and he will have a big role to play in the next two months or so.
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