It has been almost a decade since Khaldoon Al Mubarak took over the reins in Manchester City. He managed to transform a mid-table club to a champion. The Citizens have won several titles in the Premier League during his reign and signed more than a few football stars. However, for all the money invested, the club has yet to win an elusive trophy – the Champions League.
After a difficult start of the 20-21 season, Manchester City is sitting comfortably in the Premier League top spot and is on a roll in the Champions League. Pep Guardiola’s troops are major favourites to finally land the trophy, but there are still obstacles on the way. However, the time is now to pick the ripe fruits of all the hard work done in the past decade.
Manchester City is finally looking like an overwhelming favourite, so this might truly be the season they pass the finish line first.
The Story So Far
After finishing behind champions Liverpool in the 19-20 season, Manchester City was drawn in a pretty easy group for the current CL season. The teams beside it were Marseille, Porto, and Olympiacos, with City coming out on top with ease. The former English champion won 5 times with only 1 defeat and had to take the ball out of its net only a single time.
At the same time, Guardiola’s boys bagged 13 goals, announcing the high intentions for this season. In the 1/8 finals, City got the tricky Borussia Monchengladbach, but managed to pass through the quarter-finals easily. The team won 2-0 in each leg (away and home) to advance through the quarter-finals.
Once all the matches were finished, the new draw put the Citizens against another German team – Borussia Dortmund. City’s defense will face a stern test when they face Dortmund led by Erling Braut Haaland. The young Norwegian strike is the hottest asset in the market and has already been linked with Manchester City. Guardiola will certainly try to sign him in the summer, and the matches against Dortmund in the CL quarter-finals will be a kind of ‘audition’ for the already brilliant Norwegian forward.
For City, though, it will be more than just an audition. The club is expected to go all in on the Champions League after all but securing the Premier League title. Borussia Dortmund will be a serious challenge, but experts believe that City is too good to pass up on this opportunity. The English club is widely expected to reach the semi-finals where an even larger obstacle may be waiting.
A Challenging Race for the Title
If City passes Dortmund in the quarter-finals, it will either face reigning European champions Bayern Munich or PSG. Both teams are a stern test for the former English champion in what would eventually be a final before the final.
The good news for Citizens’ fans is that bookies have put City ahead of Munich as the title favourites. Of course, odds mean nothing if Guardiola’s team doesn’t perform well in the matches. So far, City has been in great form for several months, and that’s expected to continue. If the team performs as well as in the Premier League, there’s no force that could stop them, even if its Bayern.
The German champion is looking for a double in the CL, but if it faces Manchester City, it could prove too big of an obstacle. Guardiola’s team has reinforced the defense with Ruben Diaz who has been a true revelation. With the expected return to form of Sergio Aguero, this could be the season when the Citizens lift the big-eared trophy. Read more about City’s chances in the PL here and make your pick at a reputable betting site.
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