So then, another season of the Premier League is done and dusted and it’s time for the 20 teams to start reviewing their campaigns and putting plans in place for the 2019/2020 term.
Little has changed at the top of the league with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City marching to back-to-back Premier League titles, also picking up the Carabao Cup along the way.
However, it hasn’t all been plain-sailing for the Citizens as they were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage by a Premier League rival once again.
Having said this, it could yet get better for the Etihad Stadium club ahead of the Emirates FA Cup final which will be contested with Watford at Wembley Stadium.
In light of all this, today we review the season of the English champions, from their best result, to whether it was truly a success and who they should sign to improve before next season. Join us…
Best result – Brighton (A) – 4-1
Man City’s best result of the 2018/2019 season undoubtedly came on the final day of the Premier League campaign at the American Express Community Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Guardiola’s men ventured to the south coast under immense pressure a point ahead of second-place Liverpool, knowing that a victory would seal the trophy for a second successive year. However, if they slipped up, that the Reds would be ready to take the crown.
Disaster threatened to strike when Glenn Murray headed the Seagulls ahead in the 27th minute, but City remained cool and Sergio Aguero replied under 60 seconds later, Aymeric Laporte, Riyad Mahrez and Ilkay Gundogan magnificently following him in to ensure there would be no final twist in the tale.
Best signing – Riyad Mahrez
The Sky Blues only made a handful of signings during the 2018/2019 term, the bulk of them being youngsters who haven’t really threatened the starting Xl.
However, a summer 2018 arrival who wasn’t a starlet and has impressed at senior level in many different matches at various points is attacker Riyad Mahrez.
The Algerian club-record signing from Leicester City recovered from a rocky start which included missing a potentially match-winning penalty at Anfield to register 12 goals and 12 assists and even pop up with a crucial strike on the final day of the season – the stunning third goal against Brighton.
Worst result – Leicester City (A) – 2-1
The Citizens’ worst result of the campaign came during the tricky Festive period, a 2-1 Boxing Day loss to Leicester City at the King Power Stadium.
It wasn’t the most severe defeat of 18/19 in terms of scoreline, though it did make for the club’s worst run of results, three losses in the space of four league games and so very nearly cost Guardiola’s boys their title hopes.
Desperately needing a bounce-back three points following a shock home defeat to Crystal Palace, the team fell to Marc Albrighton and Ricardo Pereira strikes – only able to reply with a Sergio Aguero consolation. At that point, they were a full seven points adrift of the top of the table.
Is the manager safe? – Yes
It can be said with a lot of confidence that Pep Guardiola’s job is safe for the foreseeable future after another stellar season.
Having replaced Manuel Pellegrini at the Etihad Stadium ahead of the 2016/2017 campaign, the world-renowned Spaniard has collected a whopping five trophies, including consecutive Premier League and League Cup glories secured this term.
Guardiola is contracted in Manchester until summer 2021 and one would feel that he’d have to do a hell of a lot wrong to get sacked at any stage before then. Although he is yet to show any real signs of UEFA Champions League progression for the Sky Blues.
Who should be sold?
There isn’t a lot wrong with the current Citizens squad and it would be harsh to suggest that any of the key members should be sold when the summer transfer window gets underway.
But there are a few forgotten men at the Etihad who should go at the campaign’s conclusion. These are fringe central midfielder Fabian Delph, lesser-spotted French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala and current injured third-choice goalkeeper Claudio Bravo.
Delph may have had the quality to deserve a place in the City squad when he signed, but now that just isn’t the case and he needs to make way. The same can very much be said of Mangala who’s rarely made a matchday squad since the start of last August despite recently signing an extension. And the 36-year-old Bravo has spent the term out injured, Guardiola needs a more reliable and fresh enough back-up to Ederson and bright youngster Arijanet Muric.
Goal of the Season
Many contenders for goal of the season popped up during the campaign for the Sky Blues, including David Silva’s wonderful free-kick at home to Huddersfield Town, Kyle Walker’s low bullet against Newcastle United and Oleksandr Zinchenko’s curling worldie in the 9-0 Burton Albion cup thrashing.
But none of them came near Vincent Kompany’s incredible long-range effort in the key Etihad Stadium beating of Leicester City in Premier League matchday 37.
With City running out of time to find a winner to stay at the top of the table with three points, the central defensive club legend picked up the ball 25 yards out and drilled a rocket into the near right-hand top corner. In the process, leaving Kasper Schmeichel with no chance whatsoever and winning the encounter.
Interesting stat – 14 in a row
One interesting stat from the Manchester powerhouses’ season revolves around their final 14 Premier League matches, from early February to mid-May.
Following the surprise loss away at Newcastle United, City were left with a conundrum whereby picking up three points from each of their final 14 league games would ensure back-to-back titles, regardless of what Liverpool did.
And Guardiola’s men duly took advantage by taking care of Arsenal, Everton, Chelsea, West Ham United, AFC Bournemouth, Watford, Fulham, Cardiff City, Crystal Palace, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Burnley, Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion to become the first side to end an English top-flight campaign with 14 successive triumphs.
Success or failure? – Success
In spite of the aforementioned disappointing UEFA Champions League last-eight exit at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur, the Sky Blues’ season can only be ranked as a success yet again.
Guardiola delivered two trophies, defeating Chelsea to lift the League Cup and seeing off the fierce challenge of Liverpool to be crowned champions of England once more. And there’s potential for a third if they can get the better of a Hornets side that finished 10 places and 48 points below them in the Premier League table at Wembley.
City sit on the edge of a highly commendable domestic treble and the last two campaigns have been nothing but successes in the east side of Manchester. Who would bet against the club reflecting on a third consecutive successful term this time next year?
Turning point – Beating Liverpool
As fantastic as City’s season was, there was a period where things weren’t going so great and where a turning point arrived.
Following that forgettable 2-1 loss at Leicester, the Cityzens went to Southampton and picked up a much-needed three points before welcoming Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to the Etihad Stadium in an encounter that was always going to go a long way to deciding the title race.
Guardiola’s side picked themselves up to stride to a pivotal 2-1 win thanks to Sergio Aguero and Leroy Sane strikes rendering Roberto Firmino’s goal pointless and clawed back a heavy chunk of the seven-point deficit. From here on out, City would only fail to win once in the league in contrast to the Reds’ four draws.