Manchester City has not only recovered from a poor start to the 2020/21 Premier League campaign, but they are on course for a record-breaking season as they remain in contention for four trophies this year.
At the time of writing, Pep Guardiola’s side have won 15 consecutive matches, a record for a top-flight club in England. They sit top of the Premier League table, have a Carabao Cup final to look forward to and are going nicely in the FA Cup and Champions League.
Here is a look at how City have been able to turn their form around and become so dominant in England.
Settled Centre-Back Pairing
For the past few years, Guardiola has struggled to field the same centre-back pairing for a sustained period of time. Injuries and lack of options have really hampered his side at the back.
The signing of Ruben Dias last summer has really made a difference. He has generated an excellent partnership with John Stones which has helped the Englishman recapture his form at the club.
City have not been known for being a side tough to break down at the back, however, they have had 13 clean sheets in the Premier League this season, more than any other club. They are now long odds-on with football betting sites like Space Casino for the title. If they continue to be strong defensively, they are going to be hard to stop.
Phil Foden Proving To Be Some Talent
Guardiola has always been very open about how talented he believes Phil Foden is and the potential he has for the future. The City boss has, however, been patient with the amount of football he has played up until this season.
Foden has now, not only become an integral starter in the team, but his form has been right up there with the very best players in the Premier League. The 20-year-old has scored 10 goals this season, his best return to date.
With Kevin de Bruyne out injured for a few weeks, Foden has taken that creative responsibility in the team. Along with Riyad Mahrez, Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva, City’s attack has been unstoppable, as proved when they hammered title rivals Liverpool 4-1 at Anfield.
Guardiola Kept His Confidence In His Players
A lot of credit must go to Guardiola for the confidence he had in his side even when they were in a slump over the opening 12 weeks of the season. He defended his players and was optimistic that their fortunes would improve – and he was right.
The City boss had to try and lift his players after missing out on the Premier League title last season. They look hungry for success again and have not become complacent, despite this excellent run without a defeat.
There is still a lot of football to be played this season so Guardiola will not be counting his chickens just yet. He will be pushing his players to win every point available to them to hold off any late challenges from the likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
The latest signs suggest there will be some silverware at the end of the season, it may just be a case of how many.
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