3 players key for Manchester City’s ambitions this season

Manchester City will go into the 2024/25 season trying to win the Premier League for the fifth time in a row, a feat that has never been achieved before. They will also be trying to go all the way in the Champions League. For Pep Guardiola’s side to achieve these lofty dreams, these 3 players will have to be at their best.

#3 Jeremy Doku

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have been termed boring in recent times but in Jeremy Doku, they have an electric winger who excites watchers. He loves dribbling and last season completed 87 dribbles in the Premier League. He is very fast and combines well with Erling Haaland and City’s midfield.

In his first season at the club, Doku showed what he was all about but there was also a certain degree of inexperience in his game. Guardiola will hope to iron it out this season and make sure he doubles his 11 goal contributions from last season. Watch out for him and new signing Savinho as City’s first choice wing pairing.

#2 Erling Haaland

With his goal against Chelsea in the opening game, Erling Haaland has now scored a ridiculous 91 goals in 100 games for Manchester City. He has won the Golden Boot in both of his seasons in the Premier League. Haaland is by far the most devastating striker in world football right now and this is shown by both his numbers and his impact on the City team.

He is as pure a finisher as they come, with complete mastery over every kind of shot. He is physically imposing and quick and has the ruthlessness that makes him world class. With Julian Alvarez gone, there is no back up in the striker position for Manchester City so far, meaning Haaland would once again have to do the heavy lifting.

#1 Rodri

Rodri’s quality is best described by the impact his presence or absence has on Manchester City. The last time Rodri lost a Premier League game was in the February of 2023. He is the lynchpin, he’s the one who controls things and also comes up with some crucial goals.

Why he’s ahead of Haaland in this is because how much City struggle without Rodri on the pitch. He’s the first name on the team sheet, the true manifestation of Guardiola’s ideas on the pitch. Perhaps the biggest testament to his quality is the fact that even as a defensive midfielder, he is being considered one of the favourites for the Ballon D’or .