Worth just under $2.5 Billion, Manchester City are the 5th most valuable club in the world by 2018 Forbes calculations. Having never been recognized as a European powerhouse before the 21st century, Manchester City sunk as low as the third tier of English football in 1998, so the turnaround in fortune is quite remarkable. The Citizens are the defending Premier League champions and their recent rise to prominence has been fittingly at the expense of local rivals Manchester United with the blue half of Manchester changing the narrartive after an existence entirely in United's shadow.
This all came about when Manchester City was purchased by Billionaire Sheikh Mansour in 2008 who has since invested more than any owner in England to try to raise the status of the club. Since taking ownership, the Citizens have won 3 Premier League titles, 3 League Cups and 1 FA Cup.
Still yet to advance past the semifinal stage of the Champions League, this is the next goal on the club's agenda. The man they have appointed to this project is none other than Pep Guardiola, who arguably managed the greatest club team of this generation, Barcelona from 2008-2012 when Messi, Iniesta and Xavi were all in or entering their prime.
It is commonplace for Manchester City to have multiple players on their bench whose individual transfer fees alone can comprise another teams entire transfer budget for multiple seasons, so having won only 3 Premier League titles in a little over a decade begs the question as to whether the project has been a success or not. Until the Guardiola chapter comes to an end, we will not know fully.
Manchester City play their home games at the Etihad stadium, where attendance issues have sprung up from time to time, and travelling fans have labeled it as such, the "Empty-had".
Nevertheless, under Pep, Manchester City have raised the bar in terms of what is capable with regards to the level of attacking football and commitment to investing and there looks to be on end in sight to their willingness to push for glory.
Manchester City Next Game
Throughout the season you will find information regarding Manchester City's next fixture right here, with direct links to numbers that the popular sportsbooks have published. Be sure to check that you have got the odds you are looking for before you place your wager.
You will find Manchester City's entire season schedule right here. Check out their latest results and take a look at odds for upcoming fixtures, or sort by home and away games to review trends and form. For past results, you can review lineups, match reports and statistics which will help give you the edge when deciding on your final bet.
Manchester City Scores And Standings
Below you will find Manchester City's current Premier League standings, updated after every matchday. You can toggle home and away fixtures, review offensive production, view defensive statistics and even check out how City's first and second half performances differ. There is a wealth of information available to you right here.
Bet On Manchester City Games
Pep Guardiola has brought his brand of attacking, free-flowing football to Manchester, meaning that you can expect to see plenty of goals from the Sky Blues. This dedication to attacking football seems to also result in a lack of commitment to defending.
In Guardiola's first season, 71% of their games went over 2.5 goals, 42% of their games went over 3.5 goals and they only kept clean sheets in one third of their Premier League games.
Last season, en route to the title they broke several records including goals for (106) and wins (32). They went over 2.5 goals in 71% of their games once again and over 3.5 goals in 50% yet only conceded 27 goals over 38 contests. Frankly they were dominant domestically.
Their lack of defensive acumen cost them however in the Champions League as fellow English rivals Liverpool were able to exploit a flawed game plan in the 1st leg of a home and home and took a 3 goal cushion to the Etihad which saw them through.
However not on the blame can be laid at the feet of the scheme as their level of goalkeeping in previous seasons with Joe Hart and Claudio Bravo simply was not up to par with what a team, built on dynamic attack, required out of a backstop. In both cases, neither was effective at stopping shots, but Bravo was at least able to distribute from the back which is a key to Pep's system
Enter Brazilian net minder Ederson who can do both make difficult saves, and pass the ball at a high level. In his first 8 Premier League games of this season has been able to keep 5 clean sheets including one at Anfield, which suggests that perhaps Pep has identified his shortcomings and will adjust his strategy against bigger opposition rather than just depending on his team's ability to outscore you.
See below the top sportsbooks where you can wager online and choose the best one for you:
More teams
