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Erling Haaland has returned from injury and is once again scoring for his team. This is a cause for concern. Kevin De Bruyne is also back from injury and assisting his team. This is also worrisome. John Stones, who was a crucial player in last season’s treble, played alongside both De Bruyne and Haaland in the Champions League final rematch on Saturday. This is another alarming sign. Manchester City briefly took the top spot in the league, but only for a short time. They have now won 10 consecutive games in all competitions and are the only team with a perfect record in 2024. This is especially concerning, considering their history of long winning streaks in the second half of the season. Despite a lackluster performance, they were able to defeat Everton. This is worrying, as their potential to play even better is evident.
Recently, the City has been described as ominous, which has become the common adjective used to describe it. Every aspect has been seen as a sign of future success, possibly with good reason. Fans have been chanting “Champions again” from the stands, basing their optimism on past experiences and the talent of the players and manager. However, this confidence in their team has started to sound like a self-fulfilling prophecy, unlike the previous self-destructive tendencies termed as ‘Cityitis’ by Joe Royle.
Others could be affected by the negative consequences. The mere presence of City can be intimidating to their opponents. Arsenal appeared to be defeated by the thought of facing City in last season’s title race, as well as the fact that they had to face the powerful duo of De Bruyne and Haaland. It is important to mention that while City may be the favored team, Liverpool is currently leading the league and a crucial match at Anfield, City’s unlucky ground, is yet to take place.
City defeated Everton thanks to Haaland’s two goals, but they will face more challenging opponents in the future under Guardiola’s management.
Amid the rush to declare City as champions and treble winners once again, there is a valid reason why it is not as predictable as that. Pep Guardiola may object to the idea of inevitability. This undermines his team’s accomplishments and creates the illusion that their victories are effortless and predetermined rather than earned.
Guardiola stated on Friday that he is almost certain City will not achieve the treble again, with a 99.99% certainty. This feat has only been accomplished by Manchester United before his team. The challenges of knockout games and the fierce competition in the Premier League make it a much harder task than is often perceived through simple predictions of dominance.
In the past, April has caused problems for City, but it seems that talk of a potential treble will continue for some time. Guardiola may be annoyed by this, but based on my experience, the first leg of the round of 16 is always challenging. Despite this, City has a tendency to secure easier opponents in the first round of the Champions League knockout stage. It is now widely assumed that a match against FC Copenhagen will be a straightforward task.
The journey to success may not be guaranteed. So far, City has not defeated many of the top teams in Europe this season: not one of the top five teams in the Premier League and their biggest victory in Europe was against RB Leipzig, who are currently ranked fifth in the Bundesliga.
Being considered a favorite is largely due to their impressive victories against Bayern Munich and Real Madrid last season, as well as the partnership between De Bruyne and Haaland. Together, they were responsible for three goals and four assists out of the nine that City scored in a total of 360 minutes. However, Haaland’s second goal on Saturday was the first time De Bruyne had assisted him since their match against Bayern last April. “Kevin needs players who can run,” stated Guardiola, and Haaland is arguably one of the fastest.
Haaland and City are scheduled to make a return to Anfield in the final stages, while also managing their participation in the Champions League.
The midfielder and forward have been apart for most of the season due to injuries. Guardiola acknowledged their importance to the team, stating that their return has made them stronger. The impressive aspect is how quickly they have bounced back. Defender Nathan Ake noted that after such a long time out, it usually takes players some time to regain their form, but De Bruyne has already made six goal contributions in his first six matches back. Guardiola also mentioned that it will take time for Haaland, with his large physique, to get back to full fitness. However, he showed his capabilities against Everton with his ability to score out of nowhere.
Despite not having the most exciting group of players, the City team has consistently delivered mundane performances this season, including Saturday’s game. However, they have managed to make a comeback and climb towards the top of the standings faster than Ake had anticipated, thanks to their 10 victories.
In autumn, a slide never seemed like the end for their aspirations. Guardiola believed that the treble-winning team still maintained the proper mindset. He stated, “It’s their training, behavior, and effort that make a difference. As long as that remains, the team will always have a chance.”
Currently, they are thriving and active. Ake stated, “At the beginning of the league, it’s uncertain if we’ll end up in this situation.” However, he noted that “many of us have experienced this before” and most people expected them to be in the running at this point. This is a perception that sees all of their actions as foreboding.
Source: independent.co.uk
