Manchester City will turn their attention to exits as well as arrivals when the transfer market truly clicks into gear after the international window.
21.05.2022 - 12:33 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Pep Guardiola - without a recognised striker - has had incredible success deploying a false nine system at Manchester City, but that's likely to come to a fitting conclusion on Sunday.
The Catalan's ability to adapt and find solutions to problems is what has made him one of the most successful coaches in footballing history. So, when City were faced with the prospect of entering the season with no recognised striker at the club, his tactical pedigree was tested to the limit.
Sergio Agüero - the club's all-time leading goalscorer - was struggling with a major knee injury he picked up towards the back end of the 2019/20 season and was not likely to see any action until the New Year. Adding to that, Gabriel Jesus was slowly starting to find a rich vain of form on the right-wing and no longer saw himself as a number nine.
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Guardiola tried to tweak his team in ways that mitigated them losses of personnel, but it was not until he stumbled across the false nine system where he saw his City side really thrive. With the technical brilliance of Phil Foden in the false nine and the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling, and Gabriel Jesus buzzing on the wings, City found their groove and put together a stunning 21 straight win streak in all competitions.
It was a run that ultimately delivered them a dominant Premier League title, a fourth consecutive Carabao Cup, and a club-first appearance in the Champions League final.
The summer brought with it rumours about Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane imminent arrival at the Etihad, but that move broke down and City, once more, went into the season striker-less. Again, a shaky start was followed by an impressive 12-game winning streak
Manchester City will turn their attention to exits as well as arrivals when the transfer market truly clicks into gear after the international window.
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Here are your Manchester City evening headlines for Wednesday, June 8:
Former goalkeeper David James has insisted that Raheem Sterling should stay at Manchester City this summer and resist any temptation he may have to leave the club.
For all the talk of summer signings to follow the arrivals of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, Manchester City's next star might already be in the building.
Manchester City have known they wanted to sign Erling Haaland for more than a year, and having pursued Harry Kane over the last transfer window there would be no repeat. They went all out against Real Madrid and Barcelona to land the Norwegian No.9, and they got their man.
Much is being made of Liverpool's three goalless finals in a season that could have offered a quadruple but has ended up in a domestic cup double.
Sergio Aguero says Erling Haaland is a great signing for Manchester City and believes he can take the club one step closer to Champions League glory.
Manchester City have operated without a fixed striker for around two years at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola has been forced to establish a strikerless system of sorts in order to navigate the problem.
Manchester City never do it the easy way, but a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday confirmed Pep Guardiola's side as the Premier League champions for the fourth time in five seasons.
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City will give Erling Haaland all the time he needs to settle as he dismissed the suggestion that the forward will not work in their team.
Fernandinho says the love and respect he has had from Manchester City fans has been a big factor in him staying at the club for nine years. And the Brazilian ace, who plays his final game against Aston Villa on Sunday - when he hopes to lift the Premier League trophy for the fifth time - says he is virtually a Mancunian now.
Bacary Sagna has told Raheem Sterling not to be overly concerned about the time he has spent on the bench recently as it isn't a barometer of how much he is rated by Pep Guardiola.
Erling Haaland has a release clause worth 'significantly more' than €150 million in his new Manchester City contract, according to recent reports.