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Manchester City’s dream of having Pep Guardiola hold the reins finally is a reality.

Their desire of wanting to bring in the Spaniard hasn’t been a secret as it was well known that they wanted the former Barcelona coach to come in and recreate that kind of success.

After Barcelona, Bayern Munich proved to be a mixed affair for the coach.

On the one hand, he picked up the domestic title every season but on the other, it could be argued that that is the minimum requirement from any Bayern manager.

He failed to be successful in the Champions League, which was the main thorn in his tenure.

At Manchester City, he is expected to regularly be among the silverware. The Premier League is arguably the most competitive league in Europe but Guardiola must prove his credentials in this tough league.

The Spaniard has been busy in the transfer market and has added Celta Vigo star Nolito, midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and in a £42 million deal, 20-year-old Schalke winger Leroy Sane.

 

Defensive concerns

Manchester City’s attack is genuinely scary but concerns over defence remains. Vincent Kompany’s uncertain fitness has proved to be a major problem for City in the past.

In the captain’s absence, the team has often struggled a lot and the back-line hasn’t managed well without.

With the departure of Demichelis that leaves only Otamendi, Eliaqum Managala and Jason Denayer at centre-back. Joe Hart’s unconvincing performances for England at Euro 16 also raise questions.

Guardiola might still make further additions to the squad and he is unpredictable with his formations, but with the personnel, it seems that the Spaniard might go ahead with the 4-2-3-1 formation.

Joe Hart would be in goal with Sagna, Company, Otamendi and Kolarov ahead of him.

The midfield double pivot would perhaps comprise Yaya Toure, who is in the last year of his contract, and summer signing Ilkay Gundogan. Guardiola knows Toure from his Barcelona days and has convinced him that he still has a positive role to play for the side.

 

On the attacking front: Sterling needs to up his game; de Bruyne a guaranteed starter

In the attacking trident, Kevin de Bruyne picks himself. The Belgium international had a stellar first season with City and is a regular threat.

Questions have been raised over the future of the 30-year-old David Silva but the Spaniard has to be a part of Guardiola’s plans with the club.

The manager must make sure the most is made out of the player’s abilities as well, something that wasn’t quite happening in the previous couple of seasons.

One of Guardiola major tasks will be to get the most out of Raheem Sterling, a player who was Liverpool’s only shining light in a dismal 2014/15 season, deservedly earning a £49 million move to the Citizens.

However, after a promising start, his performances gradually declined and the player didn’t look the same.

Jesus Navas, a very one-dimensional player, got most starts henceforth. The arrival of Nolito suggests the former Celta player would feature on that left flank.

Nolito would have the freedom to move up-front an combine with Sergio Aguero up-front. The Spaniard possesses a great goal threat and should obviously be up close to the six-yard box.

Sergio Aguero will obviously lead the line for Guardiola. The Argentinean is any manager’s dream and the major goal for the coach would be to ensure his star man stays fit. He scored 24 goals in 30 league matches last season which really illustrates what he is capable of.

If he can get him to play for most of the season, there is no doubt Guardiola can go on to win plenty of trophies in just his first season in charge of the club.

 

His main task

Guardiola’s main task at City will be success in the Champions League, to ensure the club looks like they belong to the European elite.

This will be a process, but he has to take the side to the “next level”.

 

Written by Aakriti Mehrotra

Follow Aakriti on Twitter @Aakriti1

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