The year 2024 has been historic for Manchester City. In good and bad. Because it is difficult to understand that a team that in May achieved an unprecedented milestone by becoming the first to win the Premier League four times in a row, the sixth in the last seven editions, just half a year later. going through its worst crisis with Pep Guardiola. Even the Santpedor coach has not lost 9 of his last 14 games in his entire career.
Haaland’s goals
City seem to have lost the identity that made them undefeated in England and one of the best teams in the world. The scoring instinct of Erling Haaland, top scorer of the championship also in his second Premier League with 27 points After the 36 he achieved in his first season, he continues to terrorize rivals, from the moment of his arrival in 2022 from Borussia Dortmund.
The Foden factor
Added to the gluttony of the Norwegian striker Aging football by Phil Foden, unanimously voted Premier League MVP. The young English player, who turned 24 in May, has leapt from promising talent to undisputed figure by taking responsibility for the stars. Guardiola used him by dropping him on the left wing to give him freedom as a playmaker behind Haaland. From his boots came 19 goals, the fourth highest scorer, and eight assists.
De Bruyne’s leadership
The fourth consecutive Premier of the city, like the previous ones, cannot be explained without the leadership of Kevin de Bruyne. He was out for four months, his return gave wings to that team his 4 goals and 10 assists They helped them concede just three draws throughout the second round and overtake MIkel Areta’s Arsenal in the standings, leading most of the championship and left with honey on their lips for the second consecutive season.
The indispensable Rodrigo Hernández
And what to say about Rodrigo Hernandez. If in 2023 he gave them the first Champions League in their history in the final against Inter, in 2024 his goal on the final day against West Ham secured a 3-1 victory and sealed the league title with just two points ahead of Arsenal.
City did not lose any of the 34 Premier games, all starts, that Rodri played in the 2022-2023 season. His decisive goals are the icing on the cake of his indispensable work on the field, providing balance to the game in both ball-out and defensive functions.
A serious knee injury against Arsenal in September, just weeks before receiving the Ballon d’Or, it left him in the fray and without him City have floundered into a deep crisis. The ‘skyblue’ fans hope that he will return soon and that their other idols will also regain their level.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
