What stands in Man City’s way of getting even better in 2023-24?

After an unprecedented marketing campaign that noticed Manchester City conquer the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cupa brand new problem awaits.

The query on everybody’s lips is whether or not Metropolis will be stopped from persevering with their reign of excellence. As potential departures and arrivals loom on the horizon, the membership faces an intriguing summer season of transformation.

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Will their rivals discover the means to use any weaknesses, or may Metropolis’s formidable core of gamers, together with potential new signings, elevate them to even better heights subsequent season?

Listed below are 5 burning questions forward of Manchester Metropolis’s 2023-34 season:

Can Man Metropolis be stopped?

It is the query being requested in boardrooms and supervisor’s places of work throughout Europe. How do you catch them, and the way do you beat them? After profitable the Treble final season, Pep Guardiola’s workforce have a goal on their again.

Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak used his conventional end-of-season interview to say that their goal is to do it over again — an ominous warning to the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Regardless of coming off essentially the most profitable marketing campaign in Manchester Metropolis historical past, there will probably be adjustments on the Etihad Stadium this summer season. However does that imply there is a chance for his or her rivals, or may they be even stronger?

What will probably be totally different subsequent season?

Ilkay Gundogan has joined Barcelona on a free switch, and he may not be the one important departure. There’s curiosity in Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Aymeric Laporte and Kalvin Phillipsand Metropolis will take heed to lifelike affords. Silva and Laporte are eager to maneuver on however, with two years on their contracts, will solely be allowed to depart for important charges.

Bayern Munich are monitoring Kyle Walkerhowever the England defender may but signal a brand new contract at Metropolis. João Cancelo‘s prospects of reintegrating himself following his January mortgage transfer to Bayern are slim however, once more, Metropolis need a large charge for the Portugal full-back.

matthew kovacic has been signed to compensate for the lack of Gundogan and Metropolis are able to push the boat out to land Croatia defender If Guardiolwho’s valued at greater than €100 million.

Extra incomings will rely upon which gamers go away, however the formidable core of the treble-winning squad — Ederson, Ruben Dias, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland — would be the similar subsequent season.

Are there issues to unravel this summer season?

Gundogan will probably be a giant miss. He was a pacesetter within the dressing room and on the pitch and so usually popped up in important moments with a key contribution. Kovacic is an effective participant however a special sort of midfielder. With Gundogan gone, it is crucial that Phillips — if he stays — will get on top of things rapidly. Rodri barely obtained a break final season and when he did, Gundogan stuffed in because the No. 6. Phillips struggled with type and health final season, however he might want to play an even bigger position and share Rodri’s workload.

Guardiola may even must rebuild his backroom workers over the summer season. Coach Enzo Maresca has left to turn out to be Leicester City‘s new supervisor whereas Guardiola’s assistant, Rodolfo Borrell, has been named as sporting director of MLS aspect Austin FC. Borrell’s departure, particularly, will probably be a blow to Guardiola after seven years collectively on the Etihad.

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Might Metropolis be even higher subsequent season?

Guardiola will know precisely what he is getting with Kovacic — skilled and tidy in possession — however it’s the potential signing of Gvardiol that’s most fun. Solely 21, he is already top-of-the-line left-footed centre-backs on this planet and also can do a job at left-back, which will probably be a giant bonus if Cancelo is not coming again.

Metropolis confirmed curiosity in Declan Rice earlier than backing off as soon as Arsenal had lodged a bid of £105m, and it is attainable they may return into the marketplace for one other midfielder.

They’re additionally taking a look at wingers, though membership sources have rubbished strategies they’re fascinated by Atletico Madrid‘s Spain under-21 worldwide Rodrigo Riquelme.

Metropolis count on Haaland to ultimately go away for Actual Madrid however, till then, the goal is to make him higher and higher. He scored 52 objectives in his first season in England and, at 22, he has not but reached his peak. It is worrying for the remainder of the Premier League that Guardiola did not suppose his workforce had been capable of get the perfect out of Haaland till late within the season.

Who can cease them?

Metropolis’s Treble was historic, however it has been coming for some time. It is now 5 titles previously six years whereas additionally reaching two out of the previous three Champions League finals.

In 2021, they got here near an unprecedented quadruple, profitable the Premier League and the Carabao Cup and reaching the ultimate of the Champions League and the semifinal of the FA Cup.

It simply goes to indicate what their rivals, domestically and in Europe, are up in opposition to.

Liverpool are the one workforce to get near Metropolis domestically and, after ending fifth final season, have strengthened their drawback space in midfield with the addition of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig.

Arsenal completed second to final season, and their push to recruit Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber to bridge the hole has caught the eye of Metropolis bosses.

In Europe, the favourites behind Metropolis to carry the Champions League in 2024 are Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich. Actual Madrid have signed Metropolis goal Jude Bellingham however have misplaced talismanic striker Karim Benzema to Saudi Arabia. Bayern, in the meantime, are near strengthening their squad with Napoli centre-back Kim Min Jae and are pushing to signal Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur.