For the first time since the beginning of the 2020-2021 Premier League season, Manchester City entered the weekend without the label of “reigning champions”. In fact, last year was their first without winning any silverware in eight years. By all accounts, it was City’s worst season in the Pep Guardiola era, which is impressive considering they still managed to finish third in the Premier League table.
Liverpool ran away with last season’s trophy, winning the league by ten points over runners-up Arsenal after the Reds secured their 20th top-flight title with four matches remaining.
City, being uncomfortable with the way the season played out—in addition to their commitment to consistent improvement of the squad—made some key signings this summer:
- Tijjani Reijnders: the 27 year-old Dutch midfielder was signed from AC Milan for $64.4 million
- Rayan Cherki: the 22 year-old French starlet from Olympique Lyon was signed for $42.7 million as a potential Kevin de Bruyne replacement in attacking midfield
- Rayan Aït-Nouri: signed from Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 24 year-old Algerian left back was signed for $43 million to fill the gaping hole City have had at the position since Aleksandar Kolarov departed the club in 2017
- James Trafford: the City academy graduate was bought back from Burnley after a terrific season in the Championship, keeping 16 clean sheets in 29 games for the Clarets. The 22 year-old Englishman was re-signed for $36.5 million
On Saturday, in Manchester City’s Premier League opener against Wolves, Reijnders, Trafford, and Aït-Nouri all made their City Premier League debuts as starters. Cherki came off the bench as a substitute. To be frank, everyone performed well in the 4-0 drubbing at Molineux, but the debutants were particularly great.
Reijnders had his own version of the Gordie Howe hat trick, scoring City’s second goal in the 37th minute, being shown a yellow card in the 54th minute, and assisting on Erling Haaland’s second goal of the game in the 61st minute. He was also instrumental in the buildup to the opening goal, getting a “hockey assist” on Haaland’s first goal.
Trafford kept a clean sheet on his debut, making three saves. It was relatively uneventful for him, although Wolves did score a goal that was disallowed due to an offsides call.
Aït-Nouri put in a shift defensively, recording six clearances, six tackles, three interceptions, and not being dribbled past once. He also completed 88% of his passes against his former employer.
Finally, Cherki subbed on in the 73rd minute. Eight minutes later, he netted a goal from outside the box, sliding it into the bottom corner past the outstretched José Sá.
All in all, it was a great first match for City. The question is, though, are these additions enough? Every big club in the Premier League has improved substantially this summer. Liverpool were given a war chest to spend, buying the likes of Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitiké, Jeremie Frimpong, Miloš Kerkez, and Giovanni Leoni. Chelsea purchased two strikers—João Pedro and Liam Delap—for over $100 million combined, in addition to defender Jorrel Hato, winger Jamie Gittens, and others. Manchester United dropped $250 million combined on a forward line of Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Wolves’ Matheus Cunha, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško. Arsenal finally hope to have solved their striker problem with the signing of Swedish international Viktor Gyökeres from Sporting Lisbon.
It will be a very difficult task to win the Premier League with so many quality players joining the best teams in England. With that being said, the boys in blue are off to a flying start, and look hungry to take back their rightful place atop the mountain.