Manchester City Enjoying ‘new Vibes’ From Refreshed Squad On Road Back To The Top

In biblical rainfall 9 months ago, a 4-0 hammering by Tottenham near Manchester City tactically shredded and Pep Guardiola devastated astatine a silenced Etihad Stadium 48 hours aft he had agreed a caller two-year statement pinch nan club, nan head stating: “I cannot leave”. When Tottenham return to nan segment of past November’s rout for Saturday’s early kick-off, Guardiola will nonstop retired a revamped broadside intent connected wiping distant nan representation of that difficult day, and proving he was prudent to widen his tenure.

The Spurs reverse was a 5th consecutive conclusion that featured 2 different convention losses, to Bournemouth and Brighton, that were nary blip but alternatively nan commencement of a slump that would characteristic 1 triumph successful 13 games successful each competitions. The series each but ended City’s title defence, dumped them retired of nan Carabao Cup – also by Spurs – and included Champions League losses to Sporting and Juventus that indicated City European situation would founder, arsenic it did via a 6-3 aggregate playoff conclusion to Real Madrid.

Spurs’ convention triumph against City was nan consequence of them racing pinch gait connected nan antagonistic onslaught astatine their opponents . The hosts’ sluggish rearguard was incapable to incorporate Dejan Kulesevski, Son Heung-min, James Maddison (who scored twice), Pedro Porro and Brennan Johnson, who each registered erstwhile for a squad managed by Ange Postecoglou.

“It’s conscionable different opportunity – revenge makes nary sense,” Guardiola said astir this weekend’s challenge. “Spurs person ever been a reliable force for us. What happened [though] is successful nan past. I retrieve that infinitesimal aft nan world break and we already came from 2 aliases 3 bad results and nan dynamics started to beryllium not good. It’s a caller play and caller vibes and hopefully it will beryllium for illustration past play erstwhile we created a batch successful nan first 20 minutes.”

Pep Guardiola (left) had fewer answers for Tottenham’s brilliance during their 4-0 conclusion past season. Photograph: Molly Darlington/Reuters

City will almost surely again beryllium without Rodri successful nan starting lineup arsenic nan Spaniard continues his betterment from a setback pursuing his return from nan knee wounded that ruled him retired for astir of nan erstwhile campaign. HIs absence is simply a rustle for Guardiola but, past again, his counterpart has his ain headaches. Thomas Frank arrives successful Manchester without Kulesevski and Maddison, some of whom are injured, plus, perchance for nan aforesaid reason, Destiny Udogie and Yves Bissouma, who some missed past weekend’s 3-0 triumph complete Burnley. The Dane must besides revive flatlining morale pursuing Eberechi Eze’s determination to spurn Spurs successful favour of Arsenal.

Guardiola, who whitethorn clasp James Trafford successful extremity arsenic Ederson continues to see his early astatine nan club, is successful nary uncertainty of Frank’s managerial acumen: “Thomas will do a large occupation for illustration he has astatine Brentford,” he insisted. “He’s a top-class head [able to utilise] different scenarios and different alternatives regarding really they tin play. I saw it and suffered it erstwhile he was astatine Brentford.”

City’s tilt astatine claiming a 5th title successful six seasons, and seventh wide of Guardiola’s tenure, began pinch nan opening time 4-0 humbling of Wolves. Tijjani Reijnders, a summertime addition, impressed successful an all-round goalscoring show that suggested nan Dutch midfielder could beryllium cardinal to City’s improvement pursuing Kevin De Bruyne’s departure. Along Spurs’ right, wherever Kulusevski ran riot successful November, Guardiola tin combat immoderate replacement threat pinch nan velocity and protect qualities of Rayan Aït-Nouri, different summertime signing.

Then location is Rayan Cherki, different enlistee who whitethorn good supply nan x-factor that is nan hallmark of Guardiola’s champion sides. Arriving from Lyon, Cherki, who tin run arsenic a No 10 aliases wide forward, has artistry, an expertise to people – arsenic he besides did astatine Wolves – and a spiky persona.

Summer signing Rayan Cherki scored nan last extremity successful Manchester City’s 4-0 triumph complete Wolves connected opening day. Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

Erling Haaland scored doubly astatine Molineux, suggesting nan Norwegian is backmost to his best, yet Frank tin beryllium encouraged by his toothlessness successful past year’s devastating loss. He tin study, too, really City crumpled astatine nan Club World Cup only 2 competitory outings ago. Then, successful early July, Al-Hilal dumped them retired of nan past 16 as, erstwhile more, Guardiola’s precocious protect statement was exposed and his team’s style disintegrated.

Al-Hilal are nary leviathan of world shot and nan siren sounded louder arsenic City’s fragility came connected nan backmost of a 5-2 trouncing of a continental aristocrat successful nan style of Juventus. That, too, took spot astatine Orlando’s Camping World Stadium wherever afterwards Guardiola hailed a return to shape of his players. “Everybody gave an unthinkable performance. It has been a agelong clip since we had a capacity for illustration this connected and disconnected nan ball,” nan Catalan said. “The players were committed and we are happy to hit a apical side. In nan erstwhile 2 games we won but were miles away. I’m really pleased because nan players person to realise [and did today] what we person to do to get backmost to what we were nan past decade”. That each vanished against Al-Hilal truthful nan suspicion remains that City are not yet who they erstwhile were.

“I don’t cognize [if we are back],” Guardiola admits. “I for illustration a batch of things that I’m seeing successful training and behaviour. I would for illustration to beryllium a magician to cognize what’s going to happen, but I don’t know.”