Life after Guardiola, and no time to settle
For the first time in over a decade, Manchester City open a Premier League season without Pep Guardiola on the touchline. Enzo Maresca has the job now. The squad still drips with quality, yet last year it fell flat. City coughed up 20 points from winning positions, one of the worst tallies in the division.
So sporting director Hugo Viana has a to-do list before the August 23 opener. Three areas need bodies. Goalkeeper. Right-back. Midfield.
Try it for $0.99.
The keeper and the midfield can’t wait
In goal, James Trafford looks set for Leeds, which leaves Gianluigi Donnarumma standing more or less alone. Marcus Bettinelli as back-up will not cut it. Someone has to arrive. Down the right, Matheus Nunes deputised well enough, but Rico Lewis faded so badly he was not even making the matchday squad by season’s end.
Midfield has already seen a statement. Elliot Anderson cost a reported club-record 116 million pounds. And then Rodri. The Spaniard just tore through a World Cup, walking off with the Golden Ball and a record 811 completed passes in a single edition. But he has had back surgery, and Real Madrid keep circling.
Haaland, the one sure thing
Up top there is nothing to argue about. Fit Erling Haaland plays, full stop. The Norwegian racked up 1.06 goal contributions per 90 in the Premier League, the best rate anywhere in it. Savinho wants out. Jack Grealish is back from his Everton loan with no promises about his sharpness.
Maresca has enough to go after the title. He also needs two or three more faces before anyone at the Etihad can breathe easy.
Discover the rest of the football news on our mathodds website and app!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply