Manchester City, in typical Manchester City fashion, are making life extremely difficult for themselves in their attempts to win the Premier League. Despite a huge outlay in the summer, the Etihad outfit sit behind Arsenal and Leicester in the race.
Presumably, this will be Manuel Pellegrini’s last transfer window in charge of the club. Pep Guardiola is all but certain to takeover in the summer, though Pellegrini will no doubt be aiming to depart with a second Premier League crown in three years.
So, this month becomes vitally important for the Chilean coach. Much of the talk has revolved around how this season represents Arsenal’s best chance of winning the league, though the same argument could be made of City.
How often will their nearest challengers be as susceptible to a slip up than the Gunners? Can you really imagine the strongest Chelsea or Manchester United sides losing 4-0 to Southampton?
They have a raft of world class players, who simply have not yet gelled. They have resources beyond the wildest dreams of most teams in the world. They really should be winning this league.
Perhaps the January market can offer the chance to strengthen in certain areas. While they have quality all throughout the squad, certain areas can still be proved upon.
With that in mind, here’s Manchester City’s Dream XI at the end of January, using a 4-2-3-1 formation…
JOE HART
This one is pretty obvious. Joe Hart is among the best ‘keepers in the world, arguably just behind Manuel Neuer in the ranks. Aside from luring the World Cup winning stopper away from Bavaria, there is no really that will dislodge the England international between the posts at the Etihad.
The same can’t be said of his backup, Willy Caballero, however.
BACARY SAGNA
Pablo Zabaleta has been a stalwart of the City success since his arrival, but Bacary Sagna has been one of the club’s best performers this season. Despite having a relatively slow start to life in Manchester City following his switch from Arsenal, the French international is back to his best.
Perhaps a long-term heir for the right-back berth should be drafted in, though that can wait until the summer. Other areas are more pressing.
NICOLAS OTAMENDI
Vincent Kompany is obviously the ideal candidate to marshal the backline, but Pellegrini has revealed the slick City skipper could be out until the ‘last part of the season’. Summer singing Nicolas Otamendi has struggled for consistency this season, though remains a top class centre-back.
At his best, the Argentine is commanding and imposing. While that hasn’t been shown often enough, there has been glimpses. Paired next to a more capable partner, the former Valencia man can show exactly why £33m was shelled out to lure him to Manchester.
JOHN STONES
Everton are by no means pushovers in the transfer market and will make any deal for John Stones incredibly difficult to pull off. However, this is Manchester City and they are hell bent on world domination. If anyone’s got enough to prize him way from Goodison Park, it’s these guys.
An amazingly gifted ball-playing defender, the years of service the 21-year old could bring makes a reported £45m asking price surely worth it. It won’t be the easiest deal to complete, but it would be amazing to see the England international as the heart of the City project.
RICARDO RODRIGUEZ
Neither Gael Clichy nor Aleksandar Kolarov are good enough to compete at the sort of level Manchester City strive for. There’s been a dearth in top class left-backs over the last few years, though Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez is proving himself to be one.
Linked with the likes of Real Madrid and Manchester United, the Swiss international would be an ideal fit at the Etihad. A fine crosser of the ball, he’s an excellent attacker up the left wing, while having the physical attributes to remain an imposing defender. Still learning his trade, he’ll only become a stronger defender.
FERNANDINHO
One of the unsung heroes of this City side, Fernandinho is probably the best defensive midfielder City can hope to have outside of Sergio Busquets or an in-form Nemanja Matic.
Goes about his job quietly, winning possession back with tough tackling or calling on his astute ability to read the game in order to prevent opposition attacks. The Brazilian is comfortable on the ball and provides a decent enough shield to the defence.
Question marks remain over his ability in the Champions League, but however much of a Dream XI this is, Busquets is surely out of bounds right now.
MARCO VERRATTI
Yaya Toure is really becoming a burden. The Ivorian is still a truly incredible player, able to do things at the drop of a coin many players would dream about, but those exploits only serve to mask his drop in consistent form.
PSG’s Marco Verratti would be an ideal signing. The Italian is as tenacious as they come, though possesses the passing range you might expect of an Azzurri international. He may not be a like-for-like swap with Toure, but can provide a strong base at the heart of midfield.
Again, Paul Pogba may be a more obvious name, but the Juventus star seems to set to Barcelona in the summer.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
Has been an excellent signing since his £55m move from Wolfsburg in the summer. The 24-year old has scored 11 goals and added a further twelve assists, proving what a good player he is. Question marks remain over his away form, though surely they will subside the more he gets to grips with life in England. He’s simply too good not to. (Yes I know he was at Chelsea, but he played three times!)
He’s not actually played with the trio I’m about to mention that much, due to the injuries suffered by some of them. However, if everyone can stay fit, De Bruyne will become more familiar with these three, a scary thought for Premier League defences.
DAVID SILVA
Does this one really need explaining? The Spaniard is truly mesmerising at times, drifting in spaces between the opponent’s defence and midfield that are invisible to the untrained eye.
Has struggled with injuries this season, missing eight games in a row at one point, but remains one of the best Number 10s in Europe. If City are going steamroll teams like we know they can, the 30-year old will no doubt be instrumental to it.
RAHEEM STERLING
Once Raheem Sterling sorts his finishing out, he will be one of the most feared attackers on the continent. While it’s improved somewhat this season, scoring 9 goals in all competitions, the 20-year old still needs to work on his end product.
However, he’s so far proved to be a good signing. Slotting into this side with ease, he looks at home at the Etihad. One of the best wingers in the league on his day, it’s amazing for England fans to think about just how good the former Liverpool man could become under the tutelage of Pep Guardiola.
SERGIO AGUERO
When fit, he’s by far and away the best striker in the league. Perhaps only Robert Lewandowski and Luis Suarez can rival him in the battle to be considered the best out and out centre forward in the world.
He’s scored 11 goals in all competitions this season while battling injuries as usual. The Argentine truly is a world-class finisher and absolutely must remain fit in order for City to win the Premier League.