The Cityzens have refreshed their squad but doubts remain over their ability to finish top of an ever-more competitive pile
Manchester City fans used to sing "City are back, whoa, whoa" when the team's fortunes began to look up after a period in the doldrums but the chant has been heard less and less amid the seemingly never-ending cycle of success of the last 12 years. However, last year's disappointing season, which Erling Haaland called "horrific" and "boring", has seen the motto return.
It was how the club marketed their recent open training session, and if Pep Guardiola's side get off to a good start this season you can bet those three words will reverberate around the Etihad Stadium and in away sections. There is certainly a huge desire among City players to make a statement after last season, when they finished outside the top two for the first time since 2017 and also failed to win a trophy for the first time in eight years.
"Definitely, I think everyone wants to make up for last season, we all want to come to our best and winning titles," said Phil Foden. "We have got all the experience and we have done it before. That’s a positive when you have done it before, you know how to do it and what it takes so hopefully we can get back there."
But have City really strengthened enough to get back to what they used to be?