Premier League 2026-27 preview: Manchester City
Quick summary
The Guardian's season preview for Manchester City ahead of the 2026-27 Premier League campaign, part of a numbered club-by-club series.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceWith the departures of Pep Guardiola and Rodri it looks like the end of an era at City. Will Enzo Maresca be able to sustain their position as a domestic and continental superpower?
Guardian writers’ predicted position: 2nd (NB: this is not necessarily Jamie Jackson’s prediction but the average of our writers’ tips)
Last season’s position: 2nd
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What happened
This is the 15th installment in The Guardian's Premier League 2026-27 club-by-club preview series, focusing on Manchester City. The preview typically examines the squad's strengths and weaknesses, managerial outlook, key signings and departures, tactical direction, and expectations for the upcoming season. As one of the Premier League's dominant forces in recent years, Manchester City's preview will address whether they can continue to challenge for the title, how their squad has evolved, and the main threats they face.
Chance analysis
Manchester City remain one of the benchmark clubs in English football, and pre-season previews are a useful barometer of the changing balance of power in the Premier League. The Guardian's series positions each club within the broader title, European, and relegation narratives heading into 2026-27, giving readers a snapshot of squad depth, managerial stability, and tactical identity before competitive action begins. For City specifically, the focus usually lands on whether the squad has been refreshed enough to respond to whatever challenges their chief rivals have mounted during the transfer window.
Sets baseline expectations for Manchester City's 2026-27 campaign but does not directly alter any single match prediction.