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Will Manchester City go on to defend the Premier League title?

Pep Guardiola - Feature

Will Manchester City become the first club in a decade to defend the Premier League title? We take a look at their chances...

Sergio Aguero banging in the goals. David Silva pulling the strings in midfield. Vincent Kompany lifting the title. In a season where Manchester City have rewritten record books and played a brand of football rarely before seen in this country, it is worth remembering that this is not the first time this trio of club heroes have tasted title victory.

Twice before Manchester City have ruled the Premier League. And twice before, for all of Sheikh Mansour's investment, they have been unable to retain the crown. Former Manchester United player and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was unsympathetic last time it happened. For him, being serial winners is the measure of a truly great side.

"They have got a mentality problem, there's no doubt about that," Neville told Sky Sports in 2015. "This team cannot sustain success and I think that is a terrible thing to have levelled at you. When you win championships you have got to be able to come back again with hunger and they do not. They drop off it. They get to the top of the mountain and drop off it."

City have been far from alone in that respect. Right from their opening weekend defeat at home to Burnley, Chelsea appeared off the pace under Antonio Conte. At least the Italian looks set to last the season. That is more than Claudio Ranieri managed at Leicester in the previous campaign and more too than Conte's predecessor at Chelsea, Jose Mourinho.

Nine teams in a row have now failed to retain the trophy. Not since Neville's Manchester United won it in back-to-back seasons between 2007 and 2009 has the feat been achieved - and United's last attempt at retaining their title saw them finish seventh. The good news for Manchester City is that there is no danger of Pep Guardiola being complacent.

The MNF awards
The MNF awards

As the Premier League season draws to a close, Gary Neville dished out a few accolades on Monday Night Football.

"That is why next season we are going to be focused on the Premier League in pre-season and in the first game," he said recently. "That is the lesson we have to take. The year after is always complicated. We have to know that can happen to us. What happened with Chelsea, Leicester and Manchester United can happen with us. That is why I have to be prepared."

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His own history is encouraging. After winning his first title with Barcelona in 2009, Guardiola and his team became even more dominant in defending the crown - setting a points record in La Liga as they won 31 of their 38 games, including a record 18 at home. In losing only one match all season, they equalled the record set by Real Madrid over two decades earlier.

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Highlights of Manchester City's 4-1 Premier League win over West Ham

At Bayern Munich, he won the title in each of his three seasons in charge. In the second season, his Bayern side became the first team to win the Bundesliga four years in a row. The points tally was actually down on the previous year due to three consecutive defeats late in the season when, with the title won, attention shifted to the Champions League.

It was a rare example of letting intensity levels drop. Asked recently when he expects City to let up under Guardiola, former Barca man Thierry Henry could only laugh. "He demands 100 per cent in training every single time," he told Sky Sports. "When you don't do it he stops training and he goes inside. He doesn't accept 99.9 per cent. You have to give him 100."

He doesn't accept 99.9 per cent. You have to give him 100.
Thierry Henry on Pep Guardiola

Guardiola will demand that this is just the start for Manchester City and there are reasons to believe that this could well be the case. Unlike the last two title winners, they have already achieved the feat while coping with a Champions League campaign. Here, we pick out three more reasons why they are already installed as the firm favourites to retain the title…

Still room for improvement

While Guardiola may not be able to coax much more from Kompany, Aguero and Silva, the renewal of this Manchester City squad is well underway. As well as the proven performers, and the glorious sight of Kevin De Bruyne playing at the peak of his powers, there are also others whom Guardiola will feel have lots more left in their locker to give.

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City winger Leroy Sane insists Guardiola is the 'best coach in the world'

Leroy Sane is still only 22 and there is scope for both improvement and greater consistency. Injury limited Gabriel Jesus's impact this past season. Imagine how much more he can achieve? As for January arrival Aymeric Laporte, he is the left-footed defensive option that Guardiola had long craved in order to give him better options in building the City attack.

City could strengthen again

What weaknesses there have been in this City side could soon become their strengths. Benjamin Mendy will be fit to show everyone what he can do on the left, while the midfield is expected to be bolstered too. Ultimately, Guardiola decided against paying the price for Alexis Sanchez, but City will be in the market for players of that calibre again this summer.

Records City have broken
Records City have broken

Manchester City have long since wrapped up the Premier League title - but their hunger for records isn't satisfied yet.

The prospect of the best getting better will worry opponents who are already playing catch up. And so it should. The 16-point gap to Manchester United in second place is a big one to make up and given that City are on course to set a Premier League records points tally, each of their rivals will need the champions to go backwards as well as make strides of their own.

Are the opposition up to it?

Will things click for United? Will Mohamed Salah and Liverpool be able to improve on their efforts of this season? Will Mauricio Pochettino's Tottenham keep hold of the group that's threatened to deliver a trophy for each of the last three seasons and take that next step? Arsenal and Chelsea will surely improve but could it possibly be enough to trouble City?

Live Nissan Super Sunday

In the afterglow of victory it is often tempting to imagine that success is here to stay and a dynasty is upon us. It has even been suggested of Aguero, Silva and Kompany before. But this does feel a bit different. City have the confidence and they have the cash. They have the talent and the appetite. They have Guardiola. In all likelihood, they have more titles to win.

Thommo's predicts
Thommo's predicts

Find out what Thommo is tipping up at 28/1 in his Roma v Liverpool RequestABet here.

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