Pep in their step — usurping Manchester City as stars of the Premier League won’t be easy

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 19: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Everton FC at Emirates Stadium on May 19, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

By Yanga Sibembe

18 Aug 2024

Despite allegations of financial misdemeanours hanging over their head this year, manager Pep Guardiola’s loyal players are the clear favourites to set another record: a fifth title in a row.

The 2024/25 season of the English Premier League is yet another in which Manchester City, the protagonists of recent campaigns, are expected to continue in the starring role. The role of best supporting cast member will once again be open, though Arsenal are firm favourites to reprise their spot.

By winning the league last season, City made history as they became the first Premier League team to win it four times in a row. Unless they somehow implode, Pep Guardiola’s men are likely to cruise to a record fifth league crown.

Dark cloud hovers

Despite their tag as favourites, City will have the dark cloud of allegations pertaining to flouting the Premier League’s financial rules hovering ever so close over their heads this season. The club faces more than 100 counts relating to breaches of the league’s profit and sustainability rules.

Since the charges were made public in 2023, City have consistently said they have nothing to answer for. They said they welcome “the review of this matter by an independent commission, to impartially consider the comprehensive body of irrefutable evidence that exists in support” of their position.

The progression of the case, which is expected to start in September, may have a massive domino effect – not least in denting the legacy that the Sky Blues have built since Emirati royal and politician Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan took ownership of the club in 2008.

Super manager Guardiola is also into the final year of his contract with the club. Whether he stays or leaves may hinge on what the independent commission, which will process the evidence from the hearing, decides upon dissecting it all. For now, though, Guardiola is fully focused on yet another league onslaught with City.

“I have to decide what I want to do in my life. Continue here at City, take a break, [manage] a national team, anything. Of course, right now, I am here,” he said. “My energy rises again, I’m fully excited for the season. We will see. It’s a new challenge to break our own records. We will see the ambition in ourselves.”

Manchester City Cody Gakpo of Liverpool is tackled by Levi Colwill and Moises Caicedo of Chelsea. (Photo: Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

Same lead roles

City have not been very active in the transfer market to date, only roping in attacker Savinho from French club Troyes, which, coincidentally is owned by the Manchester club’s bosses. Nevertheless, the Sky Blues have managed to retain their core squad.

The likes of Norwegian forward Erling Haaland, brilliant Belgian playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and midfield anchor Rodri are expected to star once again. The club’s Brazilian goalkeeper, Ederson, is also staying put for now, despite keen interest from Saudi Arabia.

With his key players pledging their loyalty, Guardiola feels he has the perfect tools to continue rewriting English soccer history.

“I feel comfortable because the quality of human beings we have in the squad is difficult to replace, and the quality is there,” the Spanish manager said.

The chasing pack

There will be a number of teams out to derail the City bullet train, though. Undoubtedly, Arsenal and their manager, Mikel Arteta, who happens to be a student of Guardiola in the managerial realm, are out to push City once more this season.

In the battle to be the best supporting cast member while City has starred during the past two seasons, it has been the Gunners who have stepped up. In 2024/25, the London side will be out to finally seize the starring role for themselves by applying the lessons learnt while chasing City.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola gestures during their 2024 FA Community Shield match against Manchester United at Wembley on 10 August 2024. (Photo: Stu Forster / Getty Images)

“We know the demands in the league and the competition we are facing. So, all the work we’re doing is to find ways to get better and to see where the margins can be for our improvement,” Arteta said in an interview published on the club’s website.

“That pain [from last season] is still there and I think it has to remain there. But after analysing the whole season with all the staff, the team has done a lot and probably in any other context we would have won the Premier League and that’s a big jump. But it’s not enough,” Arteta added.

The Gunners may face stiff competition for what has become a coveted second place during City’s reign of dominance.

After numerous seasons of looking like an apparition of the team they were during Alex Ferguson’s 26-year reign as manager, there is new excitement in Manchester United circles.

Read more: Players to watch in the English Premier League 2024/25 season

The end of last season marked two years since Dutchman Erik ten Hag was charged with winning the Red Devils’ first league title since 2013. He has not come close to achieving this yet. That could change this season.

With the United hierarchy extending Ten Hag’s contract until 2026, bolstering his technical team and making some shrewd players acquisitions during the current transfer window, there is an air of hope that the Red Devils can finally reawaken and cease being also-rans.

“There will be ups and downs, but now we are very energised with a good dynamic and good spirit. We want to work and we want to win,” said an optimistic Ten Hag, who oversaw United’s worst Premier League season last time out, leading them to eighth place.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on during his side’s Premier League match against Everton on 19 May 2024. (Photo: Shaun Botterill / Getty Images)

United are not alone in their quest for revival. Liverpool and Chelsea both have new managers. Although the two clubs are unlikely to be challengers for league honours, Liverpool can count on a bit more stability than Chelsea can.

New Reds manager Arne Slot has huge shoes to fill after the departure of German manager Jürgen Klopp, but he has the benefit of taking over a relatively settled and experienced group of players. The challenge for the former Feyenoord boss will be transmitting his ideas to his squad sufficiently, as well as finding the right tactical balance to ensure success.

Things are a bit more complicated for new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, who, like Arsenal’s Arteta, is a former disciple of Guardiola, having worked as the Spaniard’s assistant at City.

The Italian finds a relatively inexperienced Chelsea side, albeit an expensively assembled one. That Chelsea’s leadership seems to be signing anyone who can kick a soccer ball will not make team selection and finding combinations easy for Maresca.

If he succeeds in this regard, the Blues should comfortably finish in the top four.

Before joining Chelsea ahead of the new season, Maresca was in charge of newly promoted Leicester City for one campaign. He helped the Foxes to return to the English top flight just a season after they had been relegated to the Championship.

Also returning to the Premier League this season are Ipswich and Southampton. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.

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Dark cloud hovers

Same lead roles

The chasing pack