Will Man City retain the EPL this season?

The 2013/14 season was no doubt a good year for City. A second Premier League title in three years, Manchester City were consistently rated as favourites to take out the competition and never really looked like faltering. Timing their run perfectly, late-season drop-offs from their contenders ensured the consummate professionalism of City would be enough to take the title home.

With the Premier League only a day to kick-off. We analyse the Premier League defending champions, Manchester City and also one of the favourites to retain the trophy.

To list the stand-out performers for Manchester City last season would be almost the equivalent of handing out their team-sheet. With the depth that comes with such a large budget, City’s talented roster saw the likes of Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko and Yaya Toure terrorise their opposition.

One of the biggest spenders in world football in the last six years, Manchester City’s fortunes changed when the Shiekhs of Abu Dhabi bought the club in the August of 2008. To show their spending power they bought Robinho from Real Madrid on deadline day.

While many criticised Robinho for choosing money over glory, everyone knew that a huge force was about to be built in world football. Players came in and players went. But they had to wait three years to have their first taste of glory.

Even Champions League football remained elusive till 2011-12 season when they qualified after securing the third spot under Roberto Mancini behind Manchester United and Chelsea. After that the trophies started coming in, even though they could not qualify past the group stage of the Champions League for two seasons.

The Citizens won the Premier League in the 2011-2012 season with their more decorated cross town rivals being the runner up, a fitting reply to United Manager’s Alex Ferguson’s “noisy neighbours” quip in 2009, during the times when Sky Blues were fighting to win trophies post their takeover.

The heavy investment in Manchester City means that its owners expect only the best. In Manuel Pellegrini’s first season in charge, he managed to secure the League Cup and the Premier League title – the first time City had won two major trophies in a season since 1969/70. At the moment, it appears City can do no wrong and look poised for more success when the new season kicks-off later this month.

In recent times struggling to keep up with Financial Fair Play requirements, Manchester City has been handed sanctions over reported breaches. What this essentially comes down to is that City have had their transfer budget reduced significantly. As such, world-record signings are off the table, though Pellegrini will be searching for those with the potential to burst into Premier League football for a lesser fee.

As it stands, Willy Caballero, Fernando and Bacary Sagna are the only permanent signings for City. Frank Lampard will enjoy a loan spell at the Etihad after joining the recently formed New York City F.C., which is part of Manchester City’s global development plan.

A statement that may have seemed unfathomable twelve months ago, seeing “Lamps” in a lighter shade of blue might take some getting used to. City recently added Porto defender Eliaquim Mangala to strengthen a squad that is already intimidatingly strong.

ANTHONY NLEBEM