Pep Guardiola faces a challenge in this coming season that neither Roberto Mancini nor Manuel Pellegrini could master at Manchester City – retaining the Premier League title. While most would argue the Spaniard has produced a side of significantly higher calibre, it’s as much a question of mental resilience and determination as technique and talent, something the Citizens haven’t always shown during the Sheikh Mansour era.
And just as Chelsea inadvertently discovered last season when they lost to Burnley at home on the opening day, it’s hugely important to start a title defence on the front foot – ensuring poor results and underwhelming performances aren’t breeding confidence in the five teams that will believe they can beat City to the English crown this time around.
So, can City start the coming season as they finished the last or will their title defence need to built upon difficult beginnings? Their first six fixtures of the Premier League campaign, as detailed below, should give us some idea of what to expect from Guardiola’s side in the opening months of the new term…
11th August – Arsenal (A)
18th August – Huddersfield (H)
25th August – Wolves (A)
1st September – Newcastle (H)
15th September – Fulham (H)
22nd September – Cardiff City (A)
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”255859″ player=”12034″ title=”Watch Man City’s opening fixtures for the 201819 Premier League season”]
Verdict
Aside from facing an Arsenal side on the opening day of the season that are something of an unknown proposition under Unai Emery, Manchester City have a fantastic chance to start the season as strongly as last term – the rest of their first six fixtures including the three promoted clubs, Huddersfield who will likely be involved in the relegation battle once again and Newcastle who adopted a painfully pragmatic approach last time they travelled to the Etihad Stadium.
Building early momentum will be key for Manchester City’s bid to become the Premier League’s first title retainers for a decade and the fixture list gives them a huge opportunity to set the pace early on in the race at the division’s summit, which could well see their rivals quickly fall away.
