The 2024/25 Season kicks off Friday August 16 when Fulham travel to Man United.
For previous team previews and additional content check out our website: CleanSheetEPL.beehiiv.com.
AND….
Know someone who would like to follow the CleanSheet? SHARE this link! Subscribe | CleanSheetEPL (beehiiv.com).
2023/24 Finish - 1st Place
Will also Play Champions League in 24/25
Dynasty. That term does not get thrown around lightly but winning 6 PL titles in 7 years, including the last 4, mean’s you’ve earned it. However, some might say last season was not “successful” given the quality of the team, as the PL was the only cup they earned. The 22/23 season saw them complete the “treble” winning the Champions League and FA Cup in addition the PL. Yet, over the last 7 seasons City have only won 2 FA Cups and 1 Champions League.
Motivation will be the focus for City this season. How do you “get up” for going for a fifth title? Most likely by focusing on the FA Cup and Champions League, changing up your roster with “hungry” players looking to prove themselves and by trying to “win one more” for Pep, who has said this will most likely be his last season in charge of the club.
A Good Problem to have. Always great to have the best players, however that means the majority of their players have had a VERY busy offseason - as many are stars on their national teams and have been key players in major competitions (EURO 2024, Copa America and the Olympics).
Expect Change. The team that takes the pitch this season could be very different from the team you saw beat out Arsenal for the title down the stretch last season. Expect some changes to this roster, including some surprises (Kevin De Bruyne and/or Ederson to Saudi Arabia?).
City is a top five payroll club in the world and will be favored to repeat, however a fifth title may come down to how well City navigates the first six matches of the season which includes trips to Chelsea, West Ham and Newcastle and a home challenge to title contender Arsenal. With a roster that really has not had an off-season and will have new payers at key positions, this season feels like it will be Pep’s biggest challenge over the last 4-5 seasons.
The Club
Located in Manchester
Etihad Stadium, 55,000 capacity
Rough estimates
$1B Annual Revenue
$250M Player Payroll
History on the Pitch
10 Titles, 6 of last 7 seasons, going for 5 in a row
7 FA Cups
2 Europe Cups
Ownership
Prior to 2008, City was a public club struggling financially and as a result had the lowest player payroll spending in the PL. In 2008 Abu Dhabi-based Abu Dhabi United Group Investment and Development Limited purchased City for $250M. That’s when the player spending started and in 2009 they were the highest spending team in the PL. In 2014 City Football Group (CFG) was created as an umbrella corporation that now owns more than 10 clubs around the world, including NYC FC in MLS. Khaldoon Al Mubarak serves as Chairman - an Emirates Government official and business leader.
Sponsorship
Biggest Rival - Man United - Manchester Derby
Separated by 4 miles, the size and success of both clubs brings on this heated rivalry each year.
Maybe you remember this Commercial - “Born Into It”
With all the success lately for City, they still are behind United in the win column. In 193 matches, City has 61W 79L 53 D.
Most recently, City lost to Man United 1-2 to lose the FA Cup Final in 2024
The Culture
Things really changed with the 2008 acquisition.
City has been branded as “everyone’s second favorite club” due to their reputation as being one of the most unpredictable teams (until recently) which is described as wanting to do things the hard way. You may hear them described as “typical city” or “soap opera”. For example, in 1958 City became the only team to ever score and concede 100 league goals in a season, “typical city”. They are known for their gallows (dark) humor and wear it as a badge of honor. City fans are famous for their “inflatables”, which started as a joke when player Imre Varadi was nicknamed “banana”. City holds the record for match attendance in a home match - 84,569.
Shipping Lanes
Originally started as St Mark’s, the club became Manchester City in 1894. Also in 1894, the Manchester Shipping Canal was constructed by Manchester merchants who were against paying dues to import/export goods to and from Manchester through Liverpool which sits 20 miles between Manchester and the Sea. Off the pitch rivalries continue today between the two cities. As a result, to this day Man City has a ship in their crest.
Supporters You May Recognize
Timothy Dalton. Bond. James Bond.
Jackie Chan
Johnny Marr - The Smiths
Oasis
Ice Cube
Song
While a slow song, the supporters speed it up and add some spice.
Game Day Pub Guide
Fan Sites
According to the AI tool COPILOT - here is an image of a Man City fan in front of Etihad Stadium, based on Wiki’s description of a Man City Supporter.
Cityzens - Official club fans with access and discounts
Official Twitter
@ManCity
High Follows on Twitter
@ManCityUS (200k)
@mcfc_lads (206k)
@themcfcview__ (8k)
The Team
The Gaffer
Pep Guardiola, Spain, 53yo
Best manager in the world?
Won cups at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and now City
ODDS
Projected to finish 1st
To Win League -125
To Be Relegated +1,000
To Finish Top 4 -950
To Finish Top 10 -no line being offered
Full Roster click link
Americans on team (as of July 22)
None
Interested in playing Fantasy Soccer? Here are the basics. Typical teams have a budget of $100M and 15 players - $6.7M per player.
Players listed over $7M…..
$15M - Erling Haaland, Center Forward
$9.5M - Phil Foden, Midfielder
$9.5M - Kevin De Bruyne, Midfield
$7M Julian Alvarez, Forward
Clean Sheet Seeker (Goalkeeper PL Rank)
Ederson - Top 5 keeper in the league
City of Manchester Stadium - Etihad Stadium
