The English Premier League Top Six: Stating Their Case for the Title

Manchester City: LOOK AT ALL THE MONEY WE SPENT!!

1) Pep Guardiola’s first season in England didn’t go as planned, as the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich man didn’t win a single trophy by season’s end for the first time in his managerial career. However, with a hit rate of over two goals per game, City’s proficient attack helped them end the year in 3rd, their seventh straight Top Four finish.

2) Gone is the deadwood of -- take a breath -- Pablo Zabaleta, Gael Clichy, Jesus Navas, Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna, Nolito, Aleksander Kolarov and Fernando, with all moving on as free agents or in small money moves back to the continent or to English non-contenders. A full squad is a good thing. A bloated, aging one is not.

3) In their stead, Guardiola has brought in a sextet of young players at a staggering price tag of $282 million, mainly in the hopes of improving a rear guard that was shaky at best last season. Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker and Danilo will bring skill and speed to the fullback positions, two categories sorely lacking in those spots at the Etihad in recent years, while former Benfica man Ederson will step immediately into goal after the failed Claudio Bravo Experiment of 2016-17.

4) After arriving from Palmeiras in January, Gabriel Jesus notched seven goals and four assists in just ten league appearances. City didn’t lose when he was in the lineup, going 7-0-3. Now fully healthy after missing part of last spring with a broken bone in his foot, there’s no shortage of hype over what the 20-year old Brazilian will do with a full season to work with.

5) When they’ve had the majority of their squad on hand this summer, City have been imperious, thrashing Spurs, Real Madrid and West Ham by a combined 10-1 scoreline in their last three tune-up matches. Yes, it’s just preseason, but these were dominant performances over quality opposition, and momentum like that tends to carry over to the matches that matter.

6) In Guardiola’s previous nine seasons as a manager, he’s won the league seven times and captured 22 (!!) trophies of various importance in Spain and Germany. With a year of life in the Premier League now under his belt and massive reinvestment in an already talented squad, would you bet against him claiming another league title in Season #10?