Manchester City’s 2024/25 Season Preview

Just when you got excited about the new season with Oscar Bobb starting on the right wing you get a reminder of how brutal the sport can be, picking up an injury in training. City is taking a slow approach to bringing their players back which may prove decisive in the run-in. It’s also been slow in the transfer window for many teams around the league and so we arrive to the same question, can Manchester City win the Premier League again?

Preseason

For Manchester City, this US Tour was a success on a few different fronts. Clearly, commercially it was beneficial, you only have to look at the turnouts across the years to see that. For the fan base growing in the states, they got the opportunity to watch City play and train across the East Coast. The team looked ready and fresh despite missing many first-team players. Those that were involved like Erling Haaland, Jack Grealish, Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis all impressed.

The young players invited onto the tour fell into a few different camps. James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly caught the eye of Pep Guardiola, enough for him to publicly call for them to stay with team.

Others were impressive enough to earn themselves a move away (Micah Hamilton) or a loan move (Susoho, Doyle). The remaining players, with the EDS for the coming season, had a great experience working with Pep Guardiola and the first team player.

Results

Here are the results from each match in preseason, if you want to catch up on the specific details then click the link to our review.

• Man City 3-4 Celtic, 23rd July

• Man City 2-3 AC Milan, 27th July  

• Man City 2-2 Barcelona, 30th July

• Man City 4-2 Chelsea, 3rd August

• Man City 1-1 (7-6 PEN) Man United, 10th August  

Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Oscar Bobb, Nico O’Reilly, Rico Lewis and James McAtee started every preseason match for Manchester City. Grealish then missed the Community Shield match due to injury. Towards the end of the tour, we got to the point where against Barcelona and Chelsea the same eleven started the match, included below. Ortega came in for Ederson against Chelsea.

For the Community Shield match a few first-team regulars joined but City kept a fairly similar team and structure. Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji came into the back line as Josko Gvardiol moved back to left-back. Guardiola is moving towards his eleven for the Chelsea (A) match and this season.

For more on the Community Shield performance, check out our full review below.

Now if we look back across the preseason at total minutes played you’ll notice how little the first-team players have played. In this table I’ve ranked it from top to bottom based on most minutes played for City during the 23/24 season (now excluding Alvarez). Our top four outfield players from last season have combined for only 10 minutes during preseason.

That’s clearly on purpose by the club, to give the returning players an extended break along with easing them into the lineup slowly. If we contrast that to Arsenal you’ll notice a different approach. Their top twelve players by minutes last season have all played over 100 minutes in preseason.

They’ll start the season the season sharper and look to get off to fast start. City aim to be more fresh come the title run-in. Let’s see which team’s approach wins in the end.

Outgoings

It was long rumored that Bernardo Silva and Ederson could leave this summer but both are committed for the season. Matheus Nunes was linked to a Saudi move at the start of the summer, nothing materialized and Kevin De Bruyne the same.

Two first-team players that have left, Julian Alvarez (Atletico Madrid) and Sergio Gomez (Real Sociedad), Impact the team in different ways. Gomez had his minutes reduced last season and won’t be missed. Alvarez leaving means City are without a backup striker. More than enough attackers to cover the front-line but nobody quite like Alvarez or Haaland by profile. If you want to learn more about those transfers and look back at those players career at Manchester City then check out the articles linked below. 👇

Other than those two, Taylor Harwood-Bellis has moved on to Southampton and you’ll get to see him in the Premier League this weekend. Yan Couto who had a successful season on loan at Girona has now gone to Dortmund with an obligation to buy. Micah Hamilton has been sold to Middlesbrough. Callum Doyle has gone on loan to Norwich. Mahamadou Susoho has gone on loan to Peterborough United. Luke Mbete has gone on loan to Northampton Town. Finley Burns has gone on loan to Hull City. Kalvin Phillips has gone on loan to Ipswich.

Incoming

There has only been one transfer into the club and that’s Savinho, arriving from Troyes after spending the previous season on loan at Girona. Excellent at providing lofted crosses to the back post. More creative than Doku in the half-spaces, smooth dribbler, and quick over large spaces. Has a bit of Mahrez and Sane to his game.

You can learn more about him in the article linked below.

Internally, James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly look set for promotion into the first team. Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb look set to be promoted up the pecking order with increased minutes this season. All four started every match in preseason and all four impressed to different degrees.

Future business is certainly possible and Guardiola has not said the door is not closed just yet. City are looking in the market for a player or two. Whether that is cover for Rodri, a back-up striker, or something else we will have to wait and see.

Squad Composition

For the most part, I am happy with the squad, the options we have, and cover for positions in case of injury. Even with the sale of Alvarez, the front line is covered with plenty of options. His departure has opened up minutes for the four wingers and minutes that James McAtee could take.

Julian Alvarez only played 1,293 minutes at CF last season, that includes the 540 minutes he played CF during the injury to Haaland. I'd rather see those minutes go to other attackers within the team.

Grealish, Doku, Savinho, and Bobb should all be pushing for 2,500+ minutes each. They are all capable. Feel that whoever is a genuine and consistent goal threat or provider will win out. Oscar Bobb's variety of finishes in preseason as an example, will steal that starting spot if he delivers that in the Premier League.

I think that the best performances of Ake and Akanji will come at CB. Whilst the four CB systems can be successful, we've seen the limitations to our ball progression and chance creation last season. I'm confidant that both Gvardiol and Rico Lewis inverted from full-back will provide those solution.

Rico in particular is ready for 2,000+ minutes at full-back which will benefit Kyle Walker, in performances, across the season to reduce his role. That is our first hole in the team. A conventional overlapping full-back option. Something that Antonee Robinson provides all game long as an example.

The second hole in the team is cover for Rodri. In preseason the use of a Kovacic - Nico O'Reilly double pivot has provided a solid base for the team to build from. Guardiola has said O'Reilly will be part of the team and that might be the internal solution he uses.

The third hole is a pass-first all-phase midfielder. The Gundogan replacement. Mateo Kovacic has been excellent in the first two thirds but not final one for City. Matheus Nunes remains unproven. I'd expect Bernardo Silva to play central midfield this season full-time. That seems to be the internal solution Guardiola uses.

Bruno Guimaraes can be the cover for Rodri and replacement for Ilkay Gundogan. He's an exceptional player. Adam Wharton is another option. But to bring someone in City need to clear another player off the books to open up room. I'd only expect to see a RB brought in if Kyle Walker departs. Only a CB if one of our currently players departs. A goalkeeper if Ederson departs. All look unlikely now.

Summer 2025 will see a lot of change within the City team, the midfield in particular. For the young players, they need to stick around for that opportunity. Take the minutes you can this season, learn as much as possible and be ready for it.

A reminder that last season we tracked player minutes across all of the games in the spreadsheet included below. Plenty can change throughout the season due to injuries, opening up minutes for unlikely candidates. Jack Grealish having a significant drop off in minutes couldn’t be expected. Neither could the injury to Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland.

If you want to take a closer look then check out the link below to the google sheet. 👇

There will be another live sheet tracking player minutes this season, published after the Chelsea (A) match.

If we used this table below as our starting point for the 24/25 season minutes, it’s not easy to give the usual suspects their minutes without someone else suffering. With Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva playing centrally it won’t be easy for Matheus Nunes to pick up minutes. On the wings we have four excellent contenders fighting for those spots. Someone will miss out on minutes there as well.

This also goes back to the struggle City have had in the transfer window, there is no doubt they have lists of players that would be ideal. But unless they can clear space, on top of moving on Joao Cancelo and Kalvin Phillips then those moves cannot happen.

To keep an eye on throughout the season and be aware of is just how much of our top minute’s leaders can shift from season to season. Below are the last three seasons’ minute leaders, the current first-team players highlighted in blue and departed players in red.

There are constants in Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Ruben Dias, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden, Erling Haaland and Ederson across the top minutes. Some players arrive and become key, Manuel Akanji two seasons ago with 3,815 and Josko Gvardiol last season with 3,437. Some players get promoted one season like Nathan Ake whose now expected to get 2,500+ each season. You get the players than drop off like Jack Grealish last season from 3,474 to 1,934.

So it shouldn’t surprise you if Savinho arrives and immediately picks up 2,500 minutes, Jeremy Doku takes a big step forward to play 3,000 minutes or Rico Lewis gets promoted to 2,500 minutes as our first-choice right-back. Systems change, personnel change, and Pep changes. Every season.

The injury Oscar Bobb picked up in training is a devastating one for him and we’ll have to see how he comes back as well as how quickly he gets up to speed. He would likely have started against Chelsea and gotten a big promotion in minutes this season. If he’s back by Christmas then he can still rack up plenty of minutes more than his debut season.

Tactics Preview

Before getting into my own thoughts on tactics this season, here is some great content and ideas from other creators.

One area where we have to see a shift in how City play is the wide areas. Last season the central spaces were closed off and City did not have the players available or capable of exploiting them. Nor implement a tactical plan well enough to use the wide areas for progressing the ball. That means in the buildup, with how James McAtee was used in the Community Shield, explained well by City Tactics in the thread below.

Finding the balance across all of these areas will be key, as it always is for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. American Cityzen explains in his thread below, it’s about making the least amount of tradeoffs whilst gaining control in the buildup, threatening out wide with their wingers and two creative number eights impacting the game.

It shouldn’t be controversial to say that Manchester City did not look as fluid and organized as a unit as they have done in the past. They need to improve on their structure out-of-possession, to better deal with counterattacks and recover the ball effectively. Explained by Jon Mackenzie in the podcast below.

We know that each season Guardiola will change the team in some way but what does he keep the same? Tactx explains those principles below.

It’s important to remember one thing. These ideas evolve across the season as Guardiola tries them out, players become available, and the schedule shifts. John Stones inverting into midfield works but it doesn’t if he’s always injured. The same applies to what Grealish can provide you on the left wing, doesn’t matter how good the idea is unless the personnel to pull it off is sharp and available.

In the buildup, I think you’ll see a return to consistently using a 3-2 by either Rico Lewis/Josko Gvardiol inverting into midfield or Stones/Akanji stepping forward. Then in the final third City has the option to leave only two CBs at the back by letting Kyle Walker provide an overlap on the RHS or Josko Gvardiol drive inside on the LHS, depending on the opposition and opportunities that arise.

We’ve seen the relationship between Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis work well in the preseason when one is coming inside and the other provides width. Savinho can do this as well. James McAtee in the Community Shield did a good job of pulling out into space out wide as Doku moved inside to keep the full-back pinned back.

One problem City faces is rotating Rodri enough without a clear option in the squad. It seems from preseason and the Community Shield appearance that Mateo Kovacic + 1 in a double pivot is that solution. No reason why a midfield of Bernardo - Kovacic - Foden/KDB should not be able to work. The issue is just keeping those players fit.

Guardiola also has the option to use Rico Lewis in midfield with Bernardo and Kovacic, then letting both wingers have more freedom to be direct.

The key area to watch this season, in my opinion, is how they utilize the wide areas. With the wingers, you have in Grealish, Savinho, Doku, and Bobb. They need to be dynamic and provide an end product. Pulling away defenders from the central spaces which will give the likes of Foden, Bernardo, De Bruyne, and Haaland just that little extra space they need. Force the opposition to choose who to give that room to.

How Manchester attack the wide spaces is something I discussed with the Shades of Blue Network here. You can find the rest of this preview online here.

Individuals

Heading into the season there are several City players with either potential to fill or standards to return to. You’ll naturally get the injuries to players and those that drop in form but the volume of players that can make significant progress, individually, is enough to make me quite optimistic about the title race.

Kevin De Bruyne returning to 2,500 - 3,000 minutes across all competitions whilst performing at the level he did during the second half of 23/24 would be a big boost for the team. It’ll also help keep Foden fresher.

The John Stones that we saw play all Euro 2024 for England would be very welcome back at City should he remain fit. Adding the option of using him in midfield tactically as well as rotating the back line better across the season.

Jack Grealish had a significant drop off in minutes and performances for several reasons. Now there was some highlights last season for him, Crystal Palace (A) and Spurs (H) just a couple. But to drop your minutes by over 1,400 after being an important player in the treble season, that hurt the team and they’ll want him back to his best this season.

Jeremy Doku has incredible underlying numbers but you always feel like there is a tonne of end product left on the table that your just waiting to see burst through. Now he’s bedded into the team I’d expect to see a step forward from him. More thoughts on his coming season here.

Erling Haaland past his injury should return to form more like in his first season for City, as crazy as that sounds. Oscar Bobb will eventually return to fitness and when he does I reckon you’ll see an increased role from last season. More thoughts on his coming season here.

Rico Lewis is my tip to take a step forward in terms of minutes, role and importance to the team. It’ll benefit Kyle Walker to have genuine competition and reduced minutes. Lewis will provide the team something different with his technical quality and intelligence inverting into midfield. More thoughts on his coming season here.

Phil Foden has more levels to move up through, as mad as it sounds. His influence on the team centrally and his creative output know no bounds. Whether we see that side to his game this season is another question.

Ruben Dias and Manuel Akanji can step forward this season, particularly in how they defend aerial duels and when their on the front-foot against attackers.

Josko Gvardiol has now gotten his first season out the way, starting this one knowing exactly what his role is and what the team expects from him. Mateo Kovacic the same.

My expectations for Nico O’Reilly can be found here. 500 - 800 minutes whilst training with the first team all season would be a great for his development. You’ll be surprised how quickly he’ll come along if that happens. James McAtee can also have an impact for the team, even in a limited role as I’ve explained here.

Predictions Table

Here is my prediction for the final Premier League table come next May. Something that might make me look stupid, smart or both. 😅

I’m quite optimistic around Spurs, under Ange and with the signings they’ve made. Dominic Solanke is a perfect fit. I’m aware how bold that take is. Not convinced by Liverpool but given the quality of players they have, the drop off won’t be big. Brighton have picked up a lot of talented players to match their new manager. West Ham will play much better football but whether they can move higher up remains to be seen, it’s a crowded room. Crystal Palace to build on their success last season, keeping most of their star players together. Regardless of the transfers United made, I’m unconvinced anything changes until the coach goes. Big fan of Iraola at Bournemouth, they have made some smart signings that will take some time to get going.

If it wasn’t for his injury I’d have picked Oscar Bobb as the breakout star of the season but there are a few young players across the league that I’d watch out for. Minteh at Brighton, Enzo Barrenechea at Aston Villa, Dean Huijsen a new signing at Bournemouth, Jake O’Brien looks a great fit at Everton, Chadi Riad the new CB at Crystal Palace, Luis Guilherme and Summerville at West Ham. The trio of young players joining Spurs in Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert.

I think Adam Wharton will show this season, in his first full season, why every top European Club should be after him in the following summer.

Plenty of players could take huge strides forward this season, one of my favorite young central defenders and a player I’d love to see City sign is Murillo at Nottingham Forest. If Julio Enciso can stay fit then he’s a young player-of-the-season contender in waiting, he’s that good. Going back to Spurs, I think Dominic Solanke can have the kind of season that eliminates any doubt in his ability. Joao Gomes is a good season away from getting himself a move to a top European club. Rodrigo Muniz might start to fulfill his potential as a striker, developing well over the last season.

Going back to Brighton, they have so many players that could earn themselves a move next summer. Verbruggen in my opinion is the best option Manchester City has to replace Ederson long-term. Given how rare elite defensive midfielders are, Mats Wieffer might only last one season. Brajan Gruda who they’ve just signed from Frankfurt is one of the best winger prospects Germany has coming through. If Evan Ferguson puts together a prolific season then clubs will bid for him. Simon Adingra is not far off catching the eyes of top clubs either. Testament to their recruitment team.

Chelsea Preview

This is the team I’d expect against Chelsea on Sunday and there are still a few places up for grabs since first-team players are returning with different fitness levels over the next couple of weeks.

I’m also assuming that Jack Grealish is not fit since we’ve had no confirmation. If Grealish is fit, he will start at LW and my first pick would be Doku on the RW. Oscar Bobb is out through his injury. Hesitant to suggest De Bruyne or Ake after only playing a minute in the Community Shield. Same applies for the England players and Rodri will not be in the squad at all. One other option I could see happening is if Kyle Walker starts, Rico Lewis could play in midfield next to Bernardo and Kovacic.

James McAtee and Rico Lewis have impressed me in preseason and I’d expect that to continue if either starts. We have the players to dictate the midfield over Chelsea despite who is missing and I’d imagine their defensive issues will still appear. City must capitalize on that and force Chelsea into mistakes early on rather than letting them settle into the match and gain confidence. None of their goalkeepers are at the level required with their feet to play out effectively.

It’s fair to be concerned with and expect issues in transition for Manchester City. Chelsea has the pace in behind to threaten. The winger, full-back, and midfielder on that side must work better as a unit to counter-press and slow down the opposition after losing the ball.

None of Chelsea’s midfielders are particularly strong in aerial duels so should Haaland be able to get the better of a Chelsea CB then that’s a clear route to goal. If Chelsea invert a full-back then Doku or Savinho should be looking to exploit that space left, supported by Gvardiol/Lewis.

Last point to make is Chelsea likely will press high and so it’s critical that Ederson passes out better than he did in the Community Shield. A better weighted pass to Rico Lewis or James McAtee who were moving out to the flank in space would immediately set up an attack on the Chelsea goal.

Predicted Lineup: Ederson, Lewis, Dias, Akanji, Gvardiol, Kovacic, Bernardo, McAtee, Doku, Savinho, Haaland

Predicted Score: Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City

LAST WORD👋

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