Manchester City – 2025–26 Season Preview: In the next evolutionary phase

Manchester City followed with 71 points, showcasing a similarly fearsome attack with 83 goals and a robust defensive line that conceded just 43 goals. Despite finishing behind Arsenal in the official standings, City’s +40 goal difference reflects their consistent attacking control.

While City’s control and execution remain unmatched, the shifting roles of established figures like Bernardo Silva and İlkay Gündoğan, along with a new wave of young, technically diverse reinforcements, mark a subtle generational shift.

Manchester can still benefit from its key players : Josko Gvardiol (36 starts, 3280 minutes) emerged as a vital left-sided defender, Erling Haaland remains the apex of City’s attack, delivering presence, movement, and a relentless goal threat (31 apps, 2742 mins), Bernardo Silva and Gündoğan, will more likely see their roles evolve as younger talents gain prominence with talents like Tijjani Reijnders & Rayan Cherki. Ederson continues to orchestrate City’s build-up from the back, with 2321 minutes across 26 appearances, though Stefan Ortega remains a trusted alternative. Mateo Kovačić, despite 25 starts and 1893 minutes, now faces stiffer competition from the incoming generation. Rúben Dias and Manuel Akanji maintain the core of City's defensive structure, with versatile cover from Rico Lewis and Kyle Walker.

The new signings will certainly add strengths to the core team

Tijjani Reijnders (from AC Milan) an ideal fit, Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolvehampton) width on the left flank, Rayan Cherki (Lyon) injects unpredictability in tight attacking spaces, ideal for unlocking low-block systems.

Promising additions like Sverre Nypan and Marcus Bettinelli bolster depth in midfield and goal respectively, Sverre Nypan was signed as a teenage prospect from Rosenborg BK in mid-June/July 2025, seen as a long-term midfield investment and often linked with a loan for development, Marcus Bettinelli moved to City from Chelsea around the same time as those other signings, intended as goalkeeping depth and backup cover

City's substitutes unit is now as dangerous as its starting XI: Matheus Nunes and Jérémy Doku (1673 and 1515 mins respectively) offer pace and press resistance across wide and central zones, Omar Marmoush (14+2 apps) provides rotational relief in the attacking third, Nico González, Jack Grealish, and Kyle Walker rotate in based on opposition and tactical scheme, James Trafford is being eased into the backup goalkeeper role after Ortega.

This depth enables full tactical rotation without compromising quality. City continues to toggle between 3-2-4-1 and 4-1-4-1 systems, using inverted fullbacks and positional rotations to control tempo. With Gvardiol and Aït-Nouri on the left, and Rico Lewis’s hybrid role on the right, City’s build-up shapes are more asymmetric. In midfield, Reijnders and Foden add vertical dynamism while Cherki and Doku thrive in half-spaces.

City's pressing remains elite, but transitions now rely less on Gündoğan’s timing and more on fast, high-line recoveries led by the likes of Akanji and Kovačić.

Manchester City retains the most balanced, adaptable, and tactically mature squad in the Premier League. The slow handover to younger, press-resistant, and technically elite players is under way, but without compromising on Guardiola's principles. If Haaland remains fit and the new signings settle swiftly, City could yet again set the domestic and European standard.