admin Here’s a closer look at Manchester City’s historic treble-winning 2022-23 season.
Final league position: 1st
EFL Cup: Quarter-finals
FA Cup: Winners
Champions League: Winners
Top scorer: Erling Braut Haaland (52)
Most assists: Kevin De Bruyne (29)
A year on from spending £100m on the signing of Jack Grealish, Man City forked out just over half that to activate the release clause of Borussia Dortmund’s highly-coveted striker Erling Braut Haaland. Kalvin Phillips, Manuel Akanji, Sergio Gomez and Stefan Ortega also arrived at the Etihad, while Julian Alvarez linked up with this new teammates for the first time since signing in January.
Unlike in preceding years, the Citizens made a internet income ultimate summer time season as Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Raheem Sterling had been all allowed to are trying to find pastures new – the previous becoming a member of Mikel Arteta`s Arsenal and the latter signing for Chelsea – at the same time as some of fringe and academy possibilities additionally departed permanently, such as Pedro Porro – now at Tottenham Hotspur – to Sporting Lisbon, in addition to Romeo Lavia, Gavin Bazunu and Sam Edozie to Southampton. City additionally bid farewell to long-serving midfielder Fernandinho, with Ilkay Gundogan appointed because the membership’s new captain.
The headlines at the start of City’s season had been unsurprisingly targeted at the creation of Haaland, who at once hit the floor strolling and scored simply 12 mins into his Citizens debut, netting the handiest aim in a 1-zero pre-season pleasant win over Bayern Munich. However, the Norwegian changed into not able to stamp his mark in a three-1 Community Shield loss to Liverpool.
Defeat to ultimate season’s identify competitors changed into fast placed to 1 aspect as Guardiola’s guys picked up thirteen factors from their beginning 5 Premier League suits, fewer than early pacesetters Arsenal on the summit. Haaland remarkably scored 9 desires on this period – a Premier League record – such as a brace on his top-flight debut in opposition to West Ham United on the hole weekend and lower back-to-lower back domestic hat-hints in 4-2 and 6-zero victories over Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest respectively. Alvarez additionally shone in opposition to the latter on his complete debut together along with his first league desires, however it changed into the Norwegian who scooped the Player of the Month award for August.
Indeed, Haaland’s early contributions had been great to City to mention the least, as he netted 19 desires in his first thirteen suits in all competitions. The 22-year-vintage scored 5 desires withinside the Citizens’ beginning 3 Champions League group-level suits, such as a memorable acrobatic match-winner in opposition to former membership Dortmund to assist Guardiola’s aspect make a robust begin to Group G. Following a 15-day destroy from aggressive movement after the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, City then recorded a memorable 6-three derby overcome Man United on the Etihad in early October courtesy of hat-hints from Haaland and nearby lad Phil Foden.
Second-placed Man City and 10th-placed Liverpool played at Anfield, with a 13-point lead. However, it was the latter who suffered the reigning champions’ first Premier League defeat of the season, ending a 21-game unbeaten streak at the top of the table. Mohammed Salah scored the lone goal by just one point, and it was a high-scoring run. Scoring 0 wins However, the Citizens responded well, winning five of all tournaments in their next six games.
A goalless draw with Borussia Dortmund secured top spot in the Champions League group with games to go before a 2-0 win over Chelsea City helped them reach the third round of the EFL Cup. But Guardiola’s side suffered a 2-1 home defeat to Brentford in their last game before the World Cup was suspended, leaving them five points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
Man City have used a month-long international leave to cast doubt on the future of Catalan Guardiola as he delighted Citizens fans with a two-year extension to his Etihad contract until 2025. put an end to it. The controversially scheduled mid-season World Cup saw a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina triumph in Qatar, with City’s new recruit Alvarez coming away with a winners medal after excelling with four goals in seven matches, including a brace in a crucial semi-final victory over Croatia.
The Citizens resumed their campaign with an enthralling 3-2 EFL Cup fourth-round win over Liverpool and a 3-1 top-flight victory at Leeds United, but they missed the chance to close the gap to leaders Arsenal after being held to a 1-1 home draw by relegation-threatened Everton, allowing the Gunners to end 2022 with a seven-point lead at the summit.
Guardiola and co kick-started the New Year with back-to-back wins over Chelsea, following up a 1-0 Premier League away victory with a thumping 4-0 home success in the FA Cup third round. However, a much-rotated City side suffered a disappointing 2-0 defeat at Southampton in the EFL Cup quarter-finals – Nathan Jones ultimately the man preventing the Citizens from winning the quadruple – three days before losing 2-1 to Man United at Old Trafford courtesy of a controversial equaliser amid a quickfire late comeback from the hosts, leaving the Sky Blues eight points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
At the end of January, something amazing happened. After losing his place under Guardiola after the World Cup, Joao Cancelo moved to FC Bayern Munich on loan until the end of the season. The departure of the full-back coincides with the rapid rise of Nathan Ake as an integral part of Guardiola’s squad and the rise of teenage academy graduate Rico Ruiz.
As Man City embark on a busy schedule of three tournaments, the club has been hit with news that they have been charged with 115 counts of alleged violations of the Premier Rules after a four-year investigation into sponsorship, revenue and operating costs. was upset. Confederation’s financial rules – a claim that strongly rejects citizens.
A conviction by an independent commission has suggested that City could face hefty fines, demerit points and even suspension from the Premier League, with other top clubs backing the latter. It is said that there are In fact, rival fans will mark City’s trophy win with a bold star pending a verdict. Nevertheless, in a time of great turmoil and uncertainty, Guardiola restored order and stabilized the Sky Blue ship. He stressed that he is more committed to running Citizen than ever before and is “completely convinced” that the club is innocent.
The Catalan’s rebellious attitude was passed on to the players, who then went on to go undefeated for 25 matches in all tournaments during his four-and-a-half-month start with a 3-1 win streak, an extraordinary achievement. achieved a record of Premier League wins against Aston and Villa Arsenal. Goals from Kevin De Bruyne, Grealish and Haaland gave City three crucial points against Haaland at the Emirates Stadium, robbing title rivals and finishing in the Premier League after a long run. climbed to the top.
Man City marched into the FA Cup semi-finals courtesy of comfortable victories over Championship duo Bristol City and Vincent Kompany`s Burnley in the fifth round and quarter-finals by an aggregate score of 9-0. Indeed, goal machine Haaland scored a hat-trick against the latter just four days before netting five in a thumping 7-0 second-leg win over RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16, moving onto 39 goals in all tournaments and breaking a 94-year club record set by Tommy Johnson to become City’s highest-ever goalscorer in a single season.
The in-form Citizens then regrouped after an international break and hit four past both Liverpool and Southampton before, recording an impressive 4-1 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals, with a comprehensive 3-0 first-leg win at the Etihad arguably one of their performances of the season.
City completed the month of April with three significant results, firstly beating Sheffield United 3-0 in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley courtesy of a superb Riyad Mahrez hat-trick, before a scintillating display in a 4-1 top-of-the-table win over Arsenal helped Guardiola’s side seize control of the Premier League title race, moving to within two points of the top with two games in hand. City eventually climbed to the summit with a 2-1 win at Fulham in which Haaland became the first English top-flight player to score 50 goals across all competitions in a single season since Tom ‘Pongo’ Waring 92 years ago.
Haaland’s record broke Alan Shearer (34 goals in 1994-95) and Andy Cole (34 goals in 1993-94), making him the first player to score 35 goals in a season in the Premier League. It went down even more when it became. ) surpassed ) in a 3–0 win over West Ham United in May. The Norwegian’s form in front of goal faltered somewhat at the end of the season, but Guardiola had other stars to improve. Most notable is Gundogan, a perennial finishing specialist who scored four goals in two Premier League wins against Leeds and Everton. A city close to the title.
Victory over Everton was sandwiched between City’s Champions League semi-finals and defending champions Real Madrid. After a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabéu, City thrashed the second leg 4-0, beating a side who had been eliminated by that point 12 months earlier in a heartbreaking landslide and secured their spot. I got a ticket to a parade event in Istanbul.
With City gasping for breath, Arsenal finally gave in to the pressure to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League, ending a dismal end to their title hopes after a promising season. In fact, until a disappointing 1–0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Guardiola’s side won just two of their seven league wins without kicking the ball to clinch their third consecutive top-flight title. not recorded. City lifted the Premier League trophy the following day after beating Chelsea 1-0 in front of a cheering Etihad crowd.
With one eye on two huge finals, Guardiola’s much-rotated Citizens side failed to beat either Brighton or Brentford in their final two league games, but they were unfazed by that temporary blip heading to Wembley and came out on top in the first-ever Manchester derby FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Erik ten Hag’s side, courtesy of two long-range volleys from captain marvel Ilkay Gundogan, including a record-breaking 12-second opener.
After lifting two domestic honours, the final hurdle for Man City was to end their painful wait to claim an elusive Champions League trophy, the one piece of silverware required for them to enter the conversation as one of the greatest teams to have ever graced the beautiful game. Starting his 52nd game of the season, midfield maestro Rodri broke the deadlock with a sweet strike on the 68-minute mark, before City saw out a nervy final 20 minutes – watching an Inter effort cannon off the crossbar and Ederson make two fine saves in the dying embers – to clinch European glory and etch their name into football folklore as just the second-ever treble winners from England.
PREMIER LEAGUE STATS
Wins: 28 (1st)
Draws: 5 (20th)
Losses: 5 (=19th)
Goals scored: 94 (1st)
Goals conceded: 33 (=19th)
Yellow cards: 44 (=19th)
Red cards: 1 (=10th)
Passes: 25,071 (1st)
Shots: 600 (3rd)
Big chances missed: 69 (=3rd)
Saves: 60 (20th)
Tackles: 469 (20th)
Own goals: 1 (=12th)
Hit woodwork: 19 (4th)
Clearances: 391 (20th)
How did it compare to last season?
Man City lost to Liverpool until the final round of last season, but achieved their second consecutive Premier League title by just one goal. After a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Aston Villa, the Citizens have won 29 of their 38 games, drawn 6 and lost 3, for 93 points.
In contrast, Guardiola’s side finished his 2022/23 season with 28 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats from his 38 games, just four behind him, while scoring slightly fewer goals and conceding less. was slightly more. Still, this time he won the title for the third consecutive year with three games left. Notably, Arsenal were top of the table 248 days out of 296, but City’s experience and superior quality in title contention saw the Gunners overthrow them in the closing stages.
Citizens have lost three more games this season and have nine fewer points away from home than they did last year, but have improved further at the Etihad, picking up five more points and winning 17 of their 19 home games, an impressive record. Proud. Scored a league-high 60 goals.
The Premier League was the lone trophy won by Man City last season after falling behind in the Community Shield, EFL Cup, FA Cup and Champions League. After losing 1-0 to Leicester City in the 2021/22 Community Shield, Guardiola’s side lost 3-1 to Liverpool and had to settle for a second medal this season. .
A disappointing EFL Cup quarter-final exit to Southampton was a disappointing one, but a slight improvement from the 2021/22 season, when they lost to West Ham on penalties in the fourth round. City were eliminated from the FA Cup semi-finals for the third year in a row by losing 3-2 to Liverpool last season, but managed to make it through this season, recording a famous 2-1 draw in the final. United have won the prestigious trophy for the seventh time.
Twelve months after a painful 6-5 aggregate defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, Man City return the favor to the 14-time champion with a comfortable 5-1 aggregate win on the same pitch. Did. During the season, Guardiola and his allies clinched the coveted Holy Grail with a narrow 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the final.
Player of the Season: Erling Braut Haaland
Who else? Erling Braut Haaland arrived on the Etihad final summer time season having already constructed a recognition as a intention gadget in his local Norway, Austria and Germany, however even he has been left “surprised” via way of means of the tiers reached with Man City in a certainly notable report-breaking debut marketing campaign.
While some of Pep Guardiola signings have wanted a 12 months or so as to settle into existence beneathneath the Catalan boss, Haaland has taken to English soccer like a duck to water, scoring a report 36 desires in only 35 Premier League fits to say the Golden Boot award – completing thirteen desires clean of final season`s joint-pinnacle scorers Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min.
The Norwegian additionally chipped in with 4 desires throughout the home cups and 12 moves in eleven Champions League fits – extra than some other participant – taking his mind-boggling intention tally throughout all competitions to fifty two in fifty three games.
Man City controlled to attain masses of desires with out a herbal striker final season, however the presence of Haaland in assault has taken Guardiola’s aspect to any other level. Fans, teammates and pundits have waxed lyrical approximately his instinctive motion in and across the penalty container and his cappotential to stamp his mark on fits with so few touches of the ball.
At the age of simply 22, Haaland is the primary participant in Premier League records to win the Player & Young Player of the Season awards withinside the identical marketing campaign, at the same time as he additionally acquired Player of the Month accolades and has been named the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year. Another electric powered begin to subsequent season will truly see City’s No.nine turn out to be a robust contender to win the 2023 Ballon d’Or, despite the fact that World Cup winner Messi will offer stern competition.
The Scandinavian sensation merits all of the plaudits that come his way, however there have been additionally masses of different standout performers inside City’s ranks. Indeed, playmaker Kevin De Bruyne had any other remarkable marketing campaign with 29 assists – extra than some other participant in Europe – and John Stones increased his sport to new heights after adopting a hybrid midfield function along any other pinnacle performer Rodri, at the same time as Nathan Ake loved his leap forward 12 months as a first-crew regular.
Great result: Manchester City 1-0 Inter Milan
Beating their fiercest rivals in arguably the biggest-ever Manchester derby to win the FA Cup final is undoubtedly one of the highlights of Man City`s season, as was the emphatic 4-0 second-leg success over Champions League holders Real Madrid, but beating Inter Milan to win the competition that has eluded them for so long and complete a historic treble has to be the standout result of their 2022-23 season.
Guardiola’s side were regarded as firm favourites to come out on top against an Inter side who few would have envisaged reaching the Champions League showpiece event at the start of the campaign. However, the Nerazzurri were not to be underestimated and proved on the night that they were capable of causing problems to City’s backline.
The loss of Kevin De Bruyne due to injury midway through the first half was a bitter blow for City, but as the closely-fought contest approached midnight local time at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Turkey, the deadlock was broken in the 68th minute when Rodri – who was controversially dropped for the 2021 Champions League final – curled a composed side-footed shot from around 15 yards out into the corner to spark pandemonium among the Citizens supporters behind the goal.
City’s faith was tested when Federico Dimarco looped a header onto the crossbar just three minutes later before a close-range header from substitute Romelu Lukaku somehow ricocheted off the knee of Ederson shortly after Phil Foden was denied at the other end by Andre Onana.
Ederson had blocked a last chance for Inter well before stoppage time, but when the final whistle blew the entire City bench was on the pitch with the lucky Citizens fans who had witnessed European glory. A scene of jubilation broke out when he joined the 11 members. Biggest night in club history.
Best moment
Man City have experienced a love-hate relationship with the Champions League since qualifying for the first time in 2011. Roberto Mancini failed to guide the Citizens out of the group stage before Manuel Pellegrini progressed as far as the semi-finals, and there have since been plenty of highs and lows in Europe`s premier club competition under the tutelage of Guardiola.
Indeed, VAR heartache in a quarter-final defeat to Tottenham in 2019 was followed two years later by a narrow 1-0 loss against Chelsea in their first-ever final, before Real Madrid stunned the Citizens with a remarkable semi-final comeback at the Bernabeu last season. However, Guardiola’s side learnt from those setbacks and came back much stronger to finally push themselves over the line of sporting immortality.
Fifty-three years on from club legend Tony Book lifting the Cup Winners’ Cup, captain Ilkay Gundogan had the honours of holding up Man City’s first-ever Champions League trophy, with the Blue Moon out in its full glory to mark the greatest moment in the club’s 129-year history, watched on by owner Sheikh Mansour who was in attendance for just his second game since his consortium bought the club in 2008.
Rodri’s win over Inter was one of City’s most important goals, alongside Sergio Aguero’s dramatic goal to clinch the 2011/12 title, while the entire Citizens side secured the treble. A remarkable achievement that will make history as a king and unite this close battle. Knit Group forever.
In the words of Noel Gallagher, ‘Manchester rain will taste like champagne’. On Monday, the City side met with the club’s fans and an open-top bus drove through the streets of Manchester to celebrate their third consecutive win. Celebrate with a parade.
Top priorities for summer
After a near-perfect 2022-23 season, can Man City rise again? Will they be able to maintain their dominance at home and go for another Champions League title? Will he be able to make more history by achieving an unprecedented quad? Guardiola’s ultimate goal is to keep his talented group alive and ready to move forward again and aim for more success.
However, it remains to be seen how many of these stars will remain with Etihad Airways next season. Ilkay Gundogan – Guardiola`s first signing as City manager in 2016 – is out of contract this summer and is yet to make a final decision on his future, with the likes of Barcelona, Arsenal and Saudi Arabian clubs all said to be interested in his services.
Aymeric Laporte may look to depart after falling down the pecking order this season, while Joao Cancelo has seemingly played his final game for City, who are expected to cash in on the full-back this summer and pursue a replacement. Backup goalkeeper Zack Steffen has publicly admitted that he has “no plans” to return to the Etihad when his loan spell at Middlesbrough expires and he is likely to be sold, and Bernardo Silva is another facing an uncertain future at the club having previously expressed his desire to seek pastures new.
The potential departure of both Bernardo and Gundogan would be a significant blow to City, and replacing the midfield duo could prove challenging, especially with Jude Bellingham now on his way to Real Madrid and Arsenal allegedly leading the race for Declan Rice. Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic has been strongly linked with a move to the Etihad, and it would be intriguing to see how the 29-year-old Croatian would fit into Guardiola’s system.
While Haaland, Alvarez and Akanji all impressed in their debut campaigns at the Etihad, Kalvin Phillips struggled for first-team football, starting just four of his 22 appearances in all competitions. Injuries played their part, but the England international will hope to have a greater impact in Guardiola’s side next season, whether that be rivalling Rodri or playing alongside him in the middle of the pitch.
Man City also have decisions to make regarding a number of academy prospects who spent time on loan last season. James McAtee and Tommy Doyle both impressed with newly-promoted Sheffield United and may look to remain at Bramall Lane on a temporary basis to gain both Premier League experience and regular first-team football.
The likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis, James Trafford, Callum Doyle, Josh Wilson-Esbrand, Morgan Rodgers and Liam Delap were also on loan at clubs across the EFL and may be sent out on temporary deals again to gain another year of first-team experience. Carlos Borges and Shea Charles have performed well in City’s academy last season and could face Guardiola’s judgment in pre-season before a decision is made about their futures in the first team. is high.
Final verdict
Man City have gone from strength to strength under Pep Guardiola, arguably the greatest manager of all time, who has now won 14 trophies during his seven-year tenure and has established the Citizens as the best club side in world football.
Securing a Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League treble is no mean feat, especially after beating three so-called Big Six teams to win the FA Cup and putting both Bayern and Real Madrid to the sword en route to European glory.
The ability to dominate the football landscape with an aesthetically pleasing brand of football is a sight to behold for Man City fans, and their club have now earned the right to be ranked among the greatest teams, boasting all the resources to continue their supremacy at the top of English and European football.
The sooner taht the independent commission publishes their verdict on City’s alleged financial breaches the better, but nevertheless, Manchester is well and truly blue and they are the team to beat heading into the 2023-24 campaign.
