The 2016/17 season was one to forget for the Abu-Dhabi boys of Manchester. known as the noisy neighbours by Manchester United fans.
Manchester city thought they had hit the jackpot,when a deal was struck back in october 15, 2015 to bring former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach pep Guardiola to England.
The city owners have been searching for a coach to finally bring Uefa Champions League glory to the Etihad, Pep Guardiola who won two Champions League trophies with Barcelona, was seen as the perfect man for the job.
While in Germany as coach of Bayern Munich, Guardiola stated that the English Premier League was too easy to coach in. the Spaniard and Barcelona legend finally took charge of the city on the 30th of June 2016 and soon found out the EPL was no piece of cake after loses to Tottenham Hotspur, champions Chelsea home and away, Leicester among others and home and away draws to relegated Middlesbrough
City shipped in goals at the back, and their course was not helped with City skipper Vincent Kompany was out for a greater part of the season, and reliable English shot stopper Joe Hart was loaned out to Italian side Torino.
Pep Guardiola led side ended the campaign trophy-less, finishing third in the English premier league with 78 points, 15 points behind eventual winners Chelsea fc. the citizens were also knocked out in the league cup in the fourth round by neighbors Manchester united, who went on to win the competition, they did not fare any better in the money spinning European champions league, as they were knocked out in the round of 16 by french champions Monaco. the closest the blue side of Manchester came to winning a trophy was the fa cup, where they suffered defeat in the semi-finals to yet again eventual winners arsenal.
The barren season has Pep Guardiola’s head turn and as such as sparked a massive player exodus from the Ethiad stadium. showing pep means business for the 2017/18 season and wants players that fit into his style of free flowing football.
The first player to announce his exit was Argentine Pablo Zabaleta after spending nine years at the Ethiad. the defenders became a free agent after his contract was not renewed. and he has put pen to paper for English premier league side west ham. other players tto have left the Ethiad this summer are defenders Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy both of France, Argentine goalkeeper Willy Caballero and as their contract expired.
Other players touted or the exit include England number one choice goal-keeper joe hart, after the record signing of Benfica keeper Ederson, Jason Denayer is expected to be loaned out or sold as he doesn’t figure in pep’s plan, Eliaquim Mangala on his return from his loan spell in Valencia will be searching for another team to join. players surplus to requirement Samir Nasri of France, Ivorian Wilfred Bony, Spanish striker Nolito touted for a return to Spain on loan to Sevilla, Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho have all been told to find new clubs. Fabian Delph and Fernando are set to quit city in search of first team football.
The revolution begins
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