Here’s a look at Manchester City’s 2016-17.
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Manchester City v Sunderland live streaming and TV coverage will be available across BT Sport on Saturday evening as we usher in what promises to be a fantastic 2016/17 Premier League season in style. Unlike with Barcelona and Bayern Munchen who were steeped in domestic and continental success with strong rosters immediately at his disposal, he now has to build a team of his own from “scratch”.
The newly appointed Sunderland boss has won five times at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League – the only visiting manager with more wins is Arsene Wenger (6).
The bottom three teams are relegated to the Football League Championship and do not compete in the EPL the next season.
Chelsea will probably be hoping they don’t see themselves in 16th again this season. They will dearly miss their coach in dugout in what looks like another season destined for relegation scrap.
Jesse Lingard is loving life under Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho ahead of their Premier League kick-off against Bournemouth on Sunday.
The 22-year-old was subject to interest from Chelsea last summer but the west London club’s malevolence in the transfer market cost them the opportunity to sign the former Barnsley defender.
Jermain Defoe, scorer of 15 Premier League goals last term, has returned to training after a thigh strain and is expected to be available for selection.
Those that have watched City during pre-season will have seen the immediate impact Guardiola has had on the squad. And if previous results are anything to go by we could be in for a goal-fest here, as City have scored at least three goals against Sunderland in seven of their last eight home meetings.
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Sunderland couldn’t have had it much more hard in their opening game.
Their last home defeat by the Black Cats came in January 1998 in the second tier.
Pep Guardiola has also spent a lot of money, signing Spanish attacker Nolito, Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, Schalke winger Leroy Sane, talented striker Gabriel Jesus, and English centre back John Stones.
Belgium global Vincent Kompany and Kevin De Bruyne are out, while Ilkay Gundogan is sidelined with a long-term knee injury. There are further doubts over Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony and Eliaquim Mangala who have all been tipped to leave the club this transfer window. There are some concerns about Defoe’s fitness as well as Sebastian Larsson, Jan Kirchhoff and Billy Jones, all four players will be racing to get fit for their opener.
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A failure to land either Aymeric Laporte or Leonardo Bonucci to bolster a critical area in central defence led to a late scramble to organise the backline, which – it could be argued – is exactly where stability is required well before the season starts.
