Ticker tape was still strewn across the field inside Istanbul’s Ataturk Olimpiyat Stadium, and Manchester City fans weren’t done partying in the stands when Pep Guardiola issued an ominous warning to his rivals.
Far from feeling sated after finally transferring Manchester City’s domestic dominance to Europe by winning the Champions League for the first time last season, the City manager was looking to build on his club’s historic treble of trophies. “I don’t want to disappear after one Champions League, so work harder next season and be in there.” Guardiola had completed his ultimate mission by conquering Europe with City, having done so twice as coach of Barcelona, but he made it clear that his ambition was to achieve more. And there are new boundaries for him to break ahead of the new campaign. He can become the first manager to win four straight Premier League titles—ssomething even Alex Ferguson could not do during his dominance with Manchester United. Indeed, no team has ever won four straight top-flight titles in the history of English soccer. Guardiola has already emulated Ferguson by winning the treble of the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in one season. Now he could better the man widely considered the greatest manager in the history of British soccer.
City is expected to be the team to beat once again, even after an offseason that has seen the club lose its inspirational captain Ilkay Gundogan and game-changing winger Riyad Mahrez.
