Manchester City will be a confident bunch right now with the team nestled in the 2nd spot after their 2-0 win over Bournemouth. Things are looking up for them after a period of relatively poor form when things looked like falling apart with the team outside the top 4. But the arrival of Gabriel Jesus and a new look front line changed all that and City went on to win their next 4 matches.
But an injury to Gabriel Jesus has soured the mood at the Etihad Stadium and Sergio Aguero suddenly finds himself with a lot of hope and expectation thrust upon his shoulders. With the race for Top 4 heating up with every passing gameweek and with the 8 point gap with Chelsea there to be reduced, things have to be on the ascendency if City are to have a successful season.
With the next set of Premier League fixtures in a couple of weeks time, let us take a look at 3 players who to need to buckle up and fire City to success this season.
SERGIO AGUERO
A lot of coverage on the Argentine striker this season but unfortunately for the player and for the fans, not all of it has been about his positive displays on the pitch. Although Aguero flew off the blocks and was scoring for fun initially, Guardiola was pointedly refusing to single him out for praise and maintained he wishes to turn him into a better all-round player. Almost 7 months into the season, things haven’t turned any better. Aguero has lost his goal scoring touch and was even dropped. An unfortunate injury to Jesus has given him the chance again and now Kun has to grab it with both hands and feet. If he can revive his early season form, City will be extremely difficult to stop.
KEVIN DE BRUYNE
The Belgian is one of City’s most important players and last season, his injury led to City’s season getting dismantled. He has come to England with a great reputation of being lethal in the final third with his goals and assists having the power to make or break a team’s season.
Even though he has already notched up 4 goals and 11 assists in the Premier League, in the last couple of weeks there have been instances where he could have considerably bettered his tally. He has surprisingly been shy to shoot at goal and has preferred to pass in favourable goal scoring situations. He might want to do something about his goal tally which would take a lot of pressure off the likes of Aguero.
JOHN STONES
The English international came in with huge pressure and responsibility on his shoulders and hasn’t yet passed the test, so to say. He has had an up and down season with a good display invariably followed by a mistake littered couple of displays. He is likely to be the first choice for the rest of the season and for City to have a successful finish, he needs to cut down on his errors and get tighter at the back. He has a difficult job which he has been asked to do but Pep Guardiola feels the lad has it in him.
