Manchester City Season Preview – Pep’s side have found their hunger again!

Manchester City, the sky-blue juggernaut that has dominated English football for the better part of a decade, is gearing up for the 2025-26 season with a point to prove. After a rare third-place finish in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, the Citizens are hungry to reclaim their perch atop the footballing world. With a revamped squad, a familiar genius in the dugout, and a fanbase buzzing for glory, this season promises to be a thrilling ride. From blockbuster signings to blockbuster fixtures, here’s everything you need to know about Manchester City’s quest to return to greatness.

The 2024-25 Season

Manchester City’s 2024-25 season was, by their lofty standards, a bit of a letdown. Finishing third with 71 points from 38 matches (21 wins, 8 draws, 9 losses), they were solid but not spectacular. They scored 72 goals and conceded 44, posting a goal difference of +28. Their possession game remained elite, and they peppered opponents with shots. Yet, the defensive lapses, 44 goals conceded, exposed vulnerabilities that Liverpool, who clinched the title, and Arsenal, who pipped them for second, exploited.

The numbers tell a story of a team that controlled games but struggled to convert dominance into results. Their expected goals (xG) suggest they underperformed their attacking potential while overperforming defensively, a rare imbalance for a Pep Guardiola side. The season wasn’t without highlights, but the absence of their usual ruthlessness left fans yearning for the days of 90-point campaigns. This season, they’re out to rewrite the narrative.

Summer Shopping Spree: New Faces, New Hopes

City’s response to their third-place finish was to dive headfirst into the transfer market, splashing cash and snapping up talent to plug gaps and add dynamism. The summer window, extended to accommodate the FIFA Club World Cup, saw City make six key signings, blending youth, experience, and versatility.

• Rayan Aït-Nouri (Left-Back, £31.8 million from Wolverhampton Wanderers) The Algerian brings pace and flair to the left flank, addressing a long-standing need for a dynamic full-back. His ability to bomb forward and defend stoutly makes him a perfect fit for Guardiola’s system.
• Marcus Bettinelli (Goalkeeper, undisclosed fee from Chelsea): A surprise addition, the 33-year-old provides depth behind Ederson, offering reliability as a backup keeper with Premier League experience.
• Rayan Cherki (Right Winger, £34 million from Lyon): The 21-year-old Frenchman is a creative dynamo, capable of unlocking defenses with his dribbling and vision. Expect him to add sparkle to City’s attack.
• Tijjani Reijnders (Central Midfielder, £46.3 million from Milan): The priciest signing, this 26-year-old Dutchman is tasked with filling the colossal void left by Kevin De Bruyne. His composure and passing range make him a prime candidate to orchestrate City’s midfield. –
• Sverre Nypan (Central Midfielder, £12.5 million from Rosenborg). At just 18, the Norwegian prodigy is a long-term investment. His versatility and work rate suggest he could break through sooner than expected.

These signings, totaling over £124 million for disclosed fees, signal City’s intent to rebuild their midfield and attack while shoring up the defense. The loss of Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract expired, is a seismic blow – his 108 goals and 177 assists in 422 appearances are irreplaceable in one fell swoop. Yet, the blend of Reijnders’ poise, Cherki’s flair, and Aït-Nouri’s dynamism suggests City are crafting a new identity, one that’s younger, hungrier, and ready to evolve.

The De Bruyne Dilemma

Losing Kevin De Bruyne is like losing the heartbeat of Manchester City’s midfield. The Belgian’s departure after a decade of brilliance marks the end of an era. His exit, confirmed after his contract ran down, leaves a creative void that City’s new signings must collectively fill. Reijnders, with his silky passing, and Cherki, with his flair, will be under pressure to step up, while stalwarts like Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva will need to elevate their games.

The squad’s core, Haaland, Foden, and Rodri, remains intact, providing a foundation to absorb De Bruyne’s loss. The challenge now is for Guardiola to reconfigure his tactical alchemy, turning a post-De Bruyne City into a machine as relentless as its predecessors.

Pep’s Plan: Tactical Tweaks and Coaching Boosts

Pep Guardiola, the maestro who’s been City’s guiding light since 2016, isn’t going anywhere. His presence ensures continuity, and his obsession with perfection means City will approach the season with a meticulously crafted game plan. The 2024-25 season exposed cracks that Guardiola will be itching to fix.

City’s coaching staff has received a boost. Pepijn Lijnders, formerly Jürgen Klopp’s right-hand man at Liverpool, joins as assistant coach, bringing a high-pressing, attacking philosophy that complements Guardiola’s vision. James French, a set-piece specialist, has been appointed to sharpen City’s dead-ball routines, an area where they’ve occasionally lacked ruthlessness. Guardiola’s challenge is to blend new faces with his established stars while maintaining City’s trademark fluidity. Will he stick with the 4-3-3 that’s been his bread and butter, or experiment with a 4-2-3-1 to accommodate Cherki’s flair? Pre-season friendlies will offer clues, but one thing’s certain: Pep’s whiteboard will be working overtime.

Key Fixtures to Watch

Manchester United (Home, Sep 14, 2025): The first Manchester derby of the season is a chance to set the tone. City have won 20 of 56 Premier League derbies and five of the last ten, but United can never be ruled out in a fiery clash like this one.

Arsenal (Away, Sep 20, 2025): Facing Mikel Arteta’s Gunners at the Emirates is always a tactical chess match and an early indicator of who has the bottle to take the league title.

Tottenham Hotspur (Away, Jan 31, 2026): Spurs have been a bogey team in recent years. Last season, Spurs beat City THREE times! This mid-season trip could test City’s title credentials.

Liverpool (Away, Feb 7, 2026): The defending champions, led by Arne Slot, will be a formidable foe. They’ve strengthened massively this summer and are looking to win the league again.

Chelsea (Away, Apr 11, 2026): Fresh off their Conference League and Club World Cup triumphs, Chelsea are resurgent. This late-season clash could be pivotal. These games, drawn from the Premier League’s official fixture list, will test City’s mettle against rivals vying for the same prizes. Beyond the league, City are perennial contenders in the FA Cup, EFL Cup, and UEFA Champions League, where they’ll compete for a 15th straight season.

The Etihad Evolution

Off the pitch, Manchester City are making waves. The Etihad Stadium’s North Stand expansion, completed for the 2025-26 season, boosts capacity to 61,000, creating an even more intimidating atmosphere. Announced in September 2024, this upgrade reflects City’s ambition to match their on-field success with off-field growth.

The extra seats mean more fans can witness Haaland’s thunderous strikes and Foden’s silky runs, amplifying the Etihad’s reputation as a fortress. City’s fanbase, long criticized for being quiet, has found its voice in recent years.

Title or Bust?

So, what does success look like for Manchester City in 2025-26? The bar is stratospherically high. A Premier League title is the minimum expectation, with Liverpool and Arsenal likely to be their fiercest rivals. Haaland, who led the line with ruthless efficiency last season, will be expected to challenge for the Golden Boot, while Foden’s development into a global superstar will be crucial.

The Champions League remains the ultimate prize, and with City’s squad depth and Guardiola’s nous, a second European crown is within reach. The FA Cup and EFL Cup offer additional opportunities for silverware, and City’s history of domestic dominance makes them favourites. Anything less than a major trophy will feel like a disappointment to a club accustomed to winning.

The X-Factor: Youth and Hunger

What makes this City side exciting is its future. Players like Aït-Nouri, Cherki, and Nypan bring fresh legs and fearless ambition, while veterans like Haaland, Rodri, and Silva provide the steel and know-how. This mix could be the secret sauce that propels City past its rivals. If Reijnders can harness even half of De Bruyne’s magic, and if Cherki’s flair ignites the Etihad, City could be unstoppable. The season’s early weeks will be telling.

Pre-season friendlies, including clashes in the Club World Cup, will offer a glimpse of how the new signings gel. If City hit the ground running, they could build momentum that carries them through the grueling campaign. If they stumble, the pressure will mount quickly in a league where margins are razor-thin.

---

Manchester City’s 2025-26 season is about redemption. After a rare off-year, they’ve reloaded with a blend of star power and youthful exuberance. Guardiola, the master tactician, faces one of his biggest challenges yet: proving City can thrive without De Bruyne while navigating a packed schedule and fierce competition. The Etihad’s new roar, the influx of talent, and the hunger to reclaim glory make this a season to savor. From the Manchester derby to the Anfield showdown, every match will feel like a statement. City aren’t just playing for points; they’re playing for pride, legacy, and the chance to remind the world why they’ve been the standard-bearers of English football.

---

By Nicky Helfgott – NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter)

Keep up with all the latest football news and Manchester City news on 365Scores!